THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


THE    DOG 


COMMITTEE. 


Chairman— LORD  BROUGHAM,  F.R.S.,  Member  of  the  National  Institute  of  France. 

Vice-Chairman— EARL  SPENCER. 
Treasurer— SIR  I.  L.  GOLDSMID,  BART.,  F.R.  and  R.A.S. 


Captain  Beaufort,  R.N.,  F.R.  and  R.A.S. 

Lord  Campbell. 

Professor  Carey,  A.M. 

John  Conolly,  M.D. 

William  Coulson,  Esq. 

The  Bishop  of  St.  David's. 

Sir  Henry  De  la  Beche,  F.R.S. 

Professor  De  Morgan,  F.R.A.S. 

Lord  Denman. 

T.  F.  Ellis,  Esq.,  A.M.,  F.R.A.S. 

Thomas  Falconer,  Esq. 

John  Forbes,  M.D.,  F.R.S. 

F.  H.  Goldsmid,  Esq. 

B.  Gompertz,  Esq., F.R.  and  R.A.S. 

J.  T.  Graves,  Esq.,  A.M.,  F.RS. 

M.  D.  Hill,  Esq.  Q.C. 

Rt.  Hon.  Sir  J.  C.  Hobhouse,  Bart.,  M.P. 

Thos.  Hodgkin,  M.D. 

Henry  B.  Ker,  Esq. 


Professor  Key,  A.M. 

John  G.  S.  Lefevre,  Esq.,  A.M. 

Sir  Denis  Le  Marchant,  Bart. 

Sir  Charles  Lemon,  Bart.,  M.P. 

George  C.  Lewis,  Esq.,  A.M. 

Professor  Long,  A.M. 

Right  Hon.  S.  Lushington,  D.C.L. 

Professor  Maiden,  A.M. 

A.  T.  Malkin,  Esq.,  A.M. 

Mr.  Serjeant  Manning. 

Lord  Nugent. 

Sir  Thomas  Phillipps,  Bart. 

Professor  Quain. 

Professor  Thomson,  M.D.,F.L.S. 

Thomas  Vardon,  Esq. 

Jacob  Waley,  Esq.,  A.M. 

James  Walker,  Esq.,  F.R.S. 

Thos.  Webster,  Esq.,  A.M. 

Lord  Wrottesley,  A.M.,  F.R.A.S. 


THOMAS  COATES,  ESQ.,  Secretary,  No.  42,  Bedford  Square. 


UNDER  THE  SUPERINTENDENCE  OF  THE  SOCIETY  FOR  THE 
DIFFUSION  OF  USEFUL  KNOWLEDGE 


THE     DOG 


BY  WILLIAM  YOUATT 


HEAD  OF  BLOODHOUND 


LONDON 
CHARLES  KNIGHT  AND  CO.  22  LUDGATE  STREET 

1845 


Y67 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.— THE  EARLY  HISTORY  AND  ZOOLOGICAL  CLASSIFICATION 

OF  THE  DOG 1 

II.— THE  VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.— FIRST  DIVISION      "$f?       .  13 

III.— THE  VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG,— SECOND  DIVISION     .        .  43 

IV.— THE  VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.— THIRD  DIVISION        .        .  98 

V.— THE  GOOD  QUALITIES  OF  THE  DOG;  THE  SENSE  OF 
SMELL  ;  INTELLIGENCE ;  MORAL  QUALITIES  ;  DOG- 
CARTS ;  CROPPING;  TAILING;  BREAKING-IN  ;  DOG- 
PITS;  DOG-STEALING 105 

VI.— DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  SKELETON.  DISEASES  OF  THE 
NERVOUS  SYSTEM  :— FITS  ;  TURNSIDE  ;  EPILEPSY; 
CHOREA ;  RHEUMATISM  AND  PALSY  .  .  .  .116 

VII.— RABIES 128 

VIII.— THE  EYE  AND  ITS  DISEASES 155 

IX.— THE  EAR  AND  ITS  DISEASES 160 

X.— ANATOMY  OF  THE  NOSE  AND  MOUTH  ;  AND  DISEASES 
OF  THE  NOSE  AND  OTHER  PARTS  OF  THE  FACE.— 
THE  SENSE  OF  SMELL  ;  THE  TONGUE  ;  THE  LIPS ; 
THE  TEETH;  THE  LARYNX;  BRONCHOCELE ;  PHLEG- 
MONOUS  TUMOUR 169 

XI.— ANATOMY  AND  DISEASES  OF  THE  CHEST:  THE  DIA- 
PHRAGM; THE  PERICARDIUM;  THE  HEART;  PLEU- 
RISY;  PNEUMONIA  ;  SPASMODIC  COUGH  ...  185 


RJ363108 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  PAOK 

XII.— ANATOMY  OF  THE  GULLET,  STOMACH,  AND  INTESTINES: 
TETANUS  ;  ENTERITIS  ;  PERITONITIS  ;  COLIC  ;  CAL- 
CULUS IN  THE  INTESTINES;  INTUSSUSCEPTION; 
DIARRHOEA;  DYSENTERY;  COSTIVENESS ;  DROPSY; 
THE  LIVER ;  JAUNDICE ;  THE  SPLEEN  AND  PANCREAS ; 
INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  KIDNEY;  CALCULUS;  IN- 
FLAMMATION OF  THE  BLADDER ;  RUPTURE  OF  THE 
BLADDER  ;  WORMS ;  FISTULA  IN  THE  ANUS  .  .194 

XIII.— BLEEDING;  TORSION;  CASTRATION;  PARTURITION;  AND 
SOME  DISEASES  CONNECTED  WITH  THE  ORGANS  OF 
GENERATION  .  .  .  .  .  .  v,.  .;  ,.  .  222 

XIV.— THE  DISTEMPER fc   :  7^1     .'.      .        .     231 

XV.— SMALL-POX ;  MANGE ;  WARTS  ;  CANCER ;  FUNGUS  H^EMA- 

TODES;  SORE  FEET .-_j_    *        .243 

XVI.— FRACTURES 250 

XVII.— MEDICINES  USED  IN  THE  TREATMENT  OF  THE  DISEASES 

OF  THE  DOG  ,     255 


APPENDIX.— NEW  LAWS  OF  COURSING 260 


THE     DOG. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  EARLY  HISTORY  AND  ZOOLOGICAL  CLASSIFICATION  OF  THE  DOG. 

THE  DOG,  next  to  the  human  being-,  ranks  highest  in  the  scale  of  in- 
telligence, and  was  evidently  designed  to  be  the  companion  and  the 
friend  of  man.  We  exact  the  services  of  other  animals,  and,  the  task 
being  performed,  we  dismiss  them  to  their  accustomed  food  and  rest : 
but  several  of  the  varieties  of  the  dog  follow  us  to  our  home ;  they  are 
connected  with  many  of  our  pleasures  and  wants,  and  guard  our  sleeping 
hours. 

The  first  animal  of  the  domestication  of  which  we  have  any  account  was 
the  sheep.  "  Abel  was  a  keeper  of  sheep."  a  It  is  difficult  to  believe  that 
any  long  time  would  pass  before  the  dog — who  now  in  every  country  of 
the  world  is  the  companion  of  the  shepherd,  and  the  director  or  guardian 
of  the  sheep— would  be  enlisted  in  the  service  of  man. 

From  the  earliest  known  history  he  was  the  protector  of  the  habitation 
of  the  human  being.  At  the  feet  of  the  lares>  those  household  deities 
who  were  supposed  to  protect  the  abodes  of  men,  the  figure  of  a  barking 
dog  was  often  placed.  In  every  age,  and  almost  in  every  part  of  the 
globe,  he  has  played  a  principal  part  in  the  labours,  the  dangers,  and  the 
pleasures  of  the  chace. 

In  process  of  time  man  began  to  surround  himself  with  many  servants 
from  among  the  lower  animals,  but  among  them  all  he  had  only  one 
friend — the  dog ;  one  animal  only  whose  service  was  voluntary,  and  who 
was  susceptible  of  disinterested  affection  and  gratitude.  In  every  country, 
and  in  every  time,  there  has  existed  between  man  and  the  dog  a  connexion 
different  from  that  which  is  observed  between  him  and  any  other  animal. 
The  ox  and  the  sheep  submit  to  our  control,  but  their  affections  are  prin- 
cipally, if  not  solely,  confined  to  themselves.  They  submit  to  us,  but  they 
can  rarely  be  said  to  love,  or  even  to  recognise  us,  except  as  connected 
with  the  supply  of  their  wants. 

The  horse  will  share  some  of  our  pleasures.  He  enjoys  the  chace  as 
much  as  does  his  rider ;  and,  when  contending  for  victory  on  the  course, 
he  feels  the  full  influence  of  emulation.  Remembering  the  pleasure  he 
has  experienced  with  his  master,  or  the  daily  supply  of  food  from  the 
hand  of  the  groom,  he  often  exhibits  evident  tokens  of  recognition  ;  but 
that  is  founded  on  a  selfish  principle — he  neighs  that  he  may  be  fed,  and 
his  affections  are  easily  transferred. 


a  Gen.  iv.  2. 


• 


2  EAULY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DOG. 

The  dog  is  the  only  animal  that  is  capable  of  disinterested  affection. 
He  is  the  only  one  that  regards  the  human  being  as  his  companion,  and 
follows  him  as  his  friend ;  the  only  one  that  seems  to  possess  a  natural 
desire  to  be  useful  to  him,  or  from  a  spontaneous  impulse  attaches  himself 
to  man.  We  take  the  bridle  from  the  mouth  of  the  horse,  and  turn  him 
free  into  the  pasture,  and  he  testifies  his  joy  in  his  partially  recovered 
liberty.  We  exact  from  the  dog  the  service  that  is  required  of  him,  and 
he  still  follows  us.  He  solicits  to  be  continued  as  our  companion  and 
our  friend.  Many  an  expressive  action  tells  us  how  much  he  is  pleased 
and  thankful.  He  shares  in  our  abundance,  and  he  is  content  with  the 
scantiest  and  most  humble  fare.  He  loves  us  while  living,  and  has  been 
known  to  pine  away  on  the  grave  of  his  master. 

As  an  animal  of  draught  the  dog  is  highly  useful  in  some  countries. 
What  would  become  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  northern  regions,  if  the  dog 
were  not  harnessed  to  the  sledge,  and  the  Laplander,  and  the  Greenlander, 
and  the  Kamtchatkan  drawn,  and  not  unfrequently  at  the  rate  of  nearly 
a  hundred  miles  a  day,  over  the  snowy  wastes  ?  In  Newfoundland,  the 
timber,  one  of  the  most  important  articles  of  commerce,  is  drawn  to  the 
water-side  by  the  docile  but  ill-used  dog :  and  we  need  only  to  cross  the 
British  Channel  in  order  to  see  how  useful,  and,  generally  speaking,  how 
happy,  a  beast  of  draught  the  dog  can  be. 

Though,  in  our  country,  and  to  its  great  disgrace,  this  employment  of 
the  dog  has  been  accompanied  by  such  wanton  and  shameful  cruelty,  that 
the  Legislature — somewhat  hastily  confounding  the  abuse  of  a  thing  with 
its  legitimate  purpose — forbade  the  appearance  of  the  dog-cart  in  the 
metropolitan  districts,  and  were  inclined  to  extend  this  prohibition  through 
the  whoje  kingdom,  it  is  much  to  be  desired  that  a  kindlier  and  better 
feeling  may  gradually  prevail,  and  that  this  animal,  humanely  treated, 
may  return  to  the  discharge  of  the  services  of  which  nature  has  rendered 
him  capable,  and  which  prove  the  greatest  source  of  happiness  to  him 
while  discharging  them  to  the  best  of  his  power. 

In  another  and  very  important  particular,  as  the  preserver  of  human 
life,  the  history  of  the  dog  will  be  most  interesting.  The  writer  of  this 
work  has  seen  a  Newfoundland  dog  who,  on  five  distinct  occasions,  pre- 
served the  life  of  a  human  being ;  and  it  is  said  of  the  noble  quadruped 
whose  remains  constitute  one  of  the  most  interesting  specimens  in  the 
museum  of  Berne,  that  forty  persons  were  rescued  by  him  from  impending 
destruction. 

When  this  friend  and  servant  of  man  dies,  he  does  not  or  may  not  cease 
to  be  useful ;  for  in  many  countries,  and  to  a  far  greater  extent  than  is 
generally  imagined,  his  skin  is  useful  for  gloves,  or  leggings,  or  mats,  or 
hammercloths  ;  and,  while  even  the  Romans  occasionally  fattened  him  for 
the  table,  and  esteemed  his  flesh  a  dainty,  many  thousands  of  people  in 
Asia,  Africa,  and  America,  now  breed  him  expressly  for  food. 

If  the  publication  of  the  present  work  should  throw  some  additional 
light  on  the  good  qualities  of  this  noble  animal ;  if  it  should  enable  us  to 
derive  more  advantage  from  the  services  that  he  can  render — to  train  him 
more  expeditiously  and  fully  for  the  discharge  of  those  services — to  pro- 
tect him  from  the  abuses  to  which  he  is  exposed,  and  to  mitigate  or  remove 
some  of  the  diseases  which  his  connection  with  man  has  entailed  upon 
him;  if  any  of  these  purposes  be  accomplished,  we  shall  derive  consider- 
able "  useful  knowledge  "  as  well  as  pleasure  from  the  perusal  of  the 
present  volume. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DOG.  3 

Some  controversy  has  arisen  with  regard  to  the  origin  of  the  dog. 
Professor  Thomas  Bell,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  a  truly  valuable 
history  of  the  British  quadrupeds,  traces  him  to  the  wolf.  He  says,  and 
it  is  perfectly  true,  that  the  osteology  of  the  wolf  does  not  differ  materially 
from  that  of  the  dog  more  than  that  of  the  different  kinds  of  dogs  differs ; 
that  the  cranium  is  similar,  and  .they  agree  in  nearly  all  the  other  essen- 
tial points  ;  that  the  dog  and  wolf  will  readily  breed  with  each  other,  and 
that  their  progeny,  thus  obtained,  will  again  mingle  with  the  dog.  There 
is  one  circumstance,  however,  which  seems  to  mark  a  decided  difference 
between  the  two  animals  :  the  eye  of  the  dog  of  every  country  and  species 
has  a  circular  pupil,  but  the  position  or  form  of  the  pupil  is  oblique  in  the 
wolf.  Professor  Bell  gives  an  ingenious  but  not  admissible  reason  for 
this.  He  attributes  the  forward  direction  of  the  eyes  in  the  dog  to  the 
constant  habit,  "  for  many  successive  generations,  of  looking  towards  their 
master,  and  obeying  his  voice :"  but  no  habit  of  this  kind  could  by  possi- 
bility produce  any  such  effect.  It  should  also  be  remembered  that,  in 
every  part  of  the  globe  in  which  the  wolf  is  found,  this  form  of  the  pupil, 
and  a  peculiar  setting  on  of  the  curve  of  the  tail,  and  a  singularity  in  the 
voice,  cannot  fail  of  being  observed  ;  to  which  may  be  added,  that  the 
dog  exists  in  every  latitude  and  in  every  climate,  while  the  habitation  of 
the  wolf  is  confined  to  certain  parts  of  the  globe. 

There  is  also  a  marked  difference  in  the  temper  and  habits  of  the  two. 
The  dog  is,  generally  speaking,  easily  manageable,  but  nothing  will,  in 
the  majority  of  cases,  render  the  wolf  moderately  tractable.  There  are, 
however,  exceptions  to  this.  The  author  remembers  a  bitch  wolf  at  the 
Zoological  Gardens  that  would  always  come  to  the  front  bars  of  her  den 
to  be  caressed  as  soon  as  any  one  that  she  knew  approached.  She  had 
puppies  while  there,  and  she  brought  her  little  ones  in  her  mouth  to  be 
noticed  by  the  spectators  ;  so  eager,  indeed,  was  she  that  they  should  share 
with  her  in  the  notice  of  her  friends,  that  she  killed  them  all  in  succession 
^against  the  bars  of  her  den  as  she  brought  them  forcibly  forward  to  be 
fondled. 

M.  F.  Cuvier  gives  an  account  of  a  young  wolf  who  followed  his 
master  everywhere,  and  showed  a  degree  of  affection  and  submission 
scarcely  inferior  to  the  domesticated  dog.  His  master  being  unavoidably 
absent,  he  was  sent  to  the  menagerie,  where  he  pined  for  his  loss,  and 
would  scarcely  take  any  food  for  a  considerable  time.  At  length,  how- 
ever, he  attached  himself  to  his  keepers,  and  appeared  to  have  forgotten 
his  former  associate.  At  the  expiration  of  eighteen  months  his  master 
returned,  and,  the  moment  his  voice  was  heard,  the  wolf  recognised  him, 
and  lavished  on  his  old  friend  the  most  affectionate  caresses.  A  second 
separation  followed,  which  lasted  three  years,  and  again  the  long-remem- 
bered voice  was  recognised,  and  replied  to  with  impatient  cries  ;  after 
which,  rushing  on  his  master,  he  licked  his  face  with  every  mark  of  joy, 
menacing  his  keepers,  towards  whom  he  had  just  before  been  exhibiting 
fondness.  A  third  separation  occurred,  and  he  became  gloomy  and 
melancholy.  He  suffered  the  caresses  of  none  but  his  keepers,  and 
towards  them  he  often  manifested  the  original  ferocity  of  his  species. 

These  stories,  however,  go  only  a  little  way  to  prove  that  the  dog  and 
the  wolf  have  one  common  origin. 

It  may  appear  singular  that  in  both  the  Old  Testament  and  the  New 
the  dog  was  spoken  of  almost  with  abhorrence.  He  ranked  among  the 

B  2 


4  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DOG. 

unclean  beasts.  The  traffic  in  him  and  the  price  of  him  were  considered 
as  an  abomination,  and  were  forbidden  to  be  offered  in  the  sanctuary  in 
the  discharge  of  any  vow.a 

One  grand  object  in  the  institution  of  the  Jewish  ritual  was  to  preserve 
the  Israelites  from  the  idolatry  which  at  that  time  prevailed  among  every 
other  people.  Dogs  were  held  in  considerable  veneration  by  the  Egyp- 
tians, from  whose  tyranny  the  Israelites  had  just  escaped.  Figures  of 
them  appeared  on  the  friezes  of  most  of  the  temples,b  and  they  were 
regarded  as  emblems  of  the  Divine  Being.  Herodotus,  speaking  of  the 
sanctity  in  which  some  animals  were  held  by  the  Egyptians,  says  that  the 
people  of  every  family  in  which  a  dog  died,  shaved  themselves — their 
expression  of  mourning — and  he  adds,  that  "  this  was  a  custom  existing 
in  his  own  time."  c 

The  cause  of  this  attachment  to  and  veneration  for  the  dog  is,  however, 
explained  in  a  far  more  probable  and  pleasing  way  than  many  of  the 
fables  of  ancient  mythology.  The  prosperity  of  Lower  Egypt,  and 
almost  the  very  subsistence  of  its  inhabitants,  depended  on  the  annual 
overflowing  of  the  Nile  ;  and  they  looked  for  it  with  the  utmost  anxiety. 
Its  approach  was  announced  by  the  appearance  of  a  certain  star — SIRIUS. 
As  soon  as  that  star  was  seen  above  the  horizon,  they  hastened  to  remove 
their  flocks  to  the  higher  ground,  and  abandoned  the  lower  pastures  to 
the  fertilizing  influence  of  the  stream.  They  hailed  it  as  their  guard  and 
protector ;  and,  associating  with  its  apparent  watchfulness  the  well-known 
fidelity  of  the  dog,  they  called  it  the  "  dog-star,"  and  they  worshipped 
it.  It  was  in  far  later  periods  and  in  other  countries  that  the  appearance 
of  the  dog-star  was  regarded  as  the  signal  of  insufferable  heat  or  preva- 
lent disease. 

One  of  the  Egyptian  deities — Anubis — is  described  as  having  the  form 
and  body  of  a  man,  but  with  a  dog's  head.  These  were  types  of  sagacity 
and  fidelity. 

In  Ethiopia,  not  only  was  great  veneration  paid  to  the  dog,  but  the 
inhabitants  used  to  elect  a  dog  as  their  king.  He  was  kept  in  great  state, 
and  surrounded  by  a  numerous  train  of  officers  and  guards.  When  he 
fawned  upon  them,  he  was  supposed  to  be  pleased  with  their  proceedings ; 
when  he  growled,  he  disapproved  of  the  manner  in  which  their  govern- 
ment was  conducted.  These  indications  of  his  will  were  implicitly 
obeyed,  or  rather,  perhaps,  were  translated  by  his  worshippers  as  their 
own  caprice  or  interest  dictated. 

Even  a  thousand  years  after  this  period  the  dog  was  highly  esteemed  in 
Egypt  for  its  sagacity  and  other  excellent  qualities  ;  for,  when  Pythagoras, 
after  his  return  from  Egypt,  founded  a  new  sect  in  Greece,  and  at 
Croton,  in  southern  Italy,  he  taught,  with  the  Egyptian  philosophers, 
that,  at  the  death  of  the  body,  the  soul  entered  into  that  of  different  ani- 
mals. He  used,  after  the  decease  of  any  of  his  favourite  disciples,  to  cause 
a  dog  to  be  held  to  the  mouth  of  the  dying  man,  in  order  to  receive  his 
departing  spirit ;  saying,  that  there  was  no  animal  that  could  perpetuate 
his  virtues  better  than  that  quadruped. 

It  was  in  order  to  preserve  the  Israelites  from  errors  and  follies  like 

•  Deut.  xxiii.  18.  and  broad  muzzle,  not  unlike  the  old  Tal- 

b  In  some  of  Belzoni's  beautiful  sketches  bot  hound, 

of  Hie  frieze-work  of  the  old  Egyptian  tern-  c  Herodotus,  lib.  ii.  c.  66. 
pies,  the  dog  appears,  with  his  long  ears 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DOG.  5 

these,  and  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  this  species  of  idolatry  being  esta- 
blished, that  the  dog  was  afterwards  regarded  with  utter  abhorrence 
among  the  Jews.3  This  feeling  prevailed  during  the  continuance  of  the 
Israelites  in  Palestine.  Even  in  the  New  Testament  the  Apostle  warns 
those  to  whom  he  wrote  to  "  beware  of  dogs  and  evil- workers ;"  b  and  it 
is  said  in  The  Revelations'  that."  without  are  dogs  and  sorcerers,"  &c. c 
Dogs  were,  however,  employed  even  by  the  Jews.  Job  says,  "  Now  they 
that  are  younger  than  I  have  me  in  derision,  whose  fathers  I  would  have 
disdained  to  have  set  with  the  dogs  of  my  flock."  d  Dogs  were  employed 
either  to  guide  the  sheep  or  to  protect  ihem  from  wild  beasts ;  and  some 
prowled  about  the  streets  at  night,  contending  with  each  other  for  the 
offal  that  was  thrown  away. 

To  a  certain  degree  this  dislike  of  the  dog  continues  to  the  present  day ; 
for,  with  few  exceptions,  the  dog  is  seldom  the  chosen  companion  of  the 
Jew,  or  even  the  inmate  of  his  house.  Nor  was  it  originally  confined  to 
Palestine.  Wherever  a  knowledge  of  the  Jewish  religion  spread,  or  any 
of  its  traditions  were  believed,  there  arose  an  abhorrence  of  the  dog.  The 
Mohammedans  have  always  regarded  him  as  an  unclean  animal,  that 
should  never  be  cherished  in  any  human  habitation — belonging  to  no  par- 
ticular owner,  but  protecting  the  street e  and  the  district  rather  than  the 
house  of  a  master. 

The  Hindoos  regard  him  likewise  as  unclean,  and  submit  to  various 
purifications  if  they  accidentally  come  in  contact  with  him,  believing  that 
every  dog  was  animated  by  a  wicked  and  malignant  spirit  condemned  to 
do  penance  in  that  form  for  crimes  committed  in  a  previous  state  of  exist- 
ence. If  by  chance  a  dog  passed  between  a  teacher  and  his  pupil  during 
the  period  of  instruction,  it  was  supposed  that  the  best  lesson  would  be 
completely  poisoned,  and  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  suspend  the  tuition  for 
at  least  a  day  and  a  night.  Even  in  Egypt  dogs  are  now  as  much  avoided 
as  they  were  venerated.  In  every  Mohammedan  and  Hindoo  country  the 
most  scurrilous  epithet  bestowed  on  a  European  or  a  Christian  is — "  a 
dog!"f 

This  accounts  for  the  singular  fact  that  in  the  whole  of  the  Jewish  his- 
tory there  is  not  a  single  allusion  to  hunting  with  dogs.  Mention  is  made 
of  nets  and  snares,  but  the  dog  seems  to  have  been  never  used  in  the  pur- 
suit of  game. 

In  the  early  periods  of  the  history  of  other  countries  this  seems  to  have 
been  the  case  even  where  the  dog  was  esteemed  and  valued,  and  had  be- 
come the  companion,  the  friend,  and  the  defender  of  man  and  his  home. 
So  late  as  the  second  century  of  the  Christian  aera,  the  fair  hunting  of  the 
present  day  needed  the  eloquent  defence  of  Arrian,  who  says  that  "  there 
is  as  much  difference  between  a  fair  trial  of  speed  in  a  good  run,  and  en- 

a  No  dog  was  suffered  to  come  within  from  this  faithful  animal,  the  companion 

the  precincts  of  the  Temple  at  Jerusalem.  of  man,  and  the  guardian  of  his  person 

E|o>    KWfs  was    a    prevalent    expression  and  property,  should  originate  so  many 

among  the  Jews.      Bryant's  Mythology,  terms   of  reproach   as    "  dog,"    "  cur,' 

vol.  ii.  p.  42.  "  hound,"   "  puppy,"  "  dog  cheap,"  "  a 

b  Phil.  iii.  2.  dog's  trick,"  "  dog  sick."  "  dog  weary," 

c  Rev.  xxii.  15.  "  to  lead  the  life  of  a  dog,"  "  to  use  like  a 

d  Job.  xxx.  1.    See  also  Isaiah  Ivi.  10,  dog."      All  this  probably  originated  in 

11.  the  East,  where  the  dog  was  held  in  ab- 

c  Psalm  lix.  6.  horrence  as  the  common  scavenger  of  the 

f  Carpenter's   Scripture  Natural   His-  streets. 

tory,  p.  109.     It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that 


6 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DOG. 


snaring  a  poor  animal  without  an  effort,  as  between  the  secret  piratical 
assaults  of  robbers  at  sea,  and  the  victorious  naval  engagements  of  the 
Athenians  at  Artemisium  and  at  Salamis.a  The  first  hint  of  the  employ- 
ment of  the  dog  in  the  pursuit  of  other  animals  is  given  by  Oppian  in  his 
Cynegeticus,  who  attributes  it  to  Pollux,  about  200  years  after  the  pro- 
mulgation of  the  Levitical  law. 

Of  the  precise  species  of  dog  that  prevailed  or  was  cultivated  in  Greece 
at  this  early  period  little  can  with  certainty  be  affirmed.  One  beautiful 
piece  of  sculpture  has  been  preserved,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
Lord  Feversham  at  Duncombe  Hall.  It  is  said  to  represent  the  favourite 
dog  of  Alcibiades,  and  to  have  been  the  production  of  Myson,  one  of  the 
most  skilful  artists  of  ancient  times.  It  differs  but  little  from  the  New- 
foundland dog  of  the  present  day.  He  is  represented  as  sitting  on  his 
haunches,  and  earnestly  looking  at  his  master.  Any  one  would  vouch 
for  the  sagacity  and  fidelity  of  that  animal. 

The  British  Museum  contains  a  group  of  greyhound  puppies  of  more 
recent  date,  from  the  ruins  of  the  villa  of  Antoninus,  near  Rome.  One 


is  fondling  the  other,  and  the  attitude  of  both,  and  the  characteristic 
puppy-clumsiness  of  their  limbs,  which  indicate,  nevertheless,  the  beautiful 
proportions  that  will  soon  be  developed,  are  an  admirable  specimen  of 
ancient  art. 

The  Greeks  in  the  earlier  periods  of  their  history  depended  too  much 
on  their  nets ;  and  it  was  not  until  later  times  that  they  pursued  their  prey 

*  Arrian's  Cynegeticus,  cap.  26. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DOG.  7 

with  dogs,  and  then  not  with  dogs  that  ran  by  sight,  or  succeeded  by  their 
swiftness  of  foot,  but  by  beagles  very  little  superior  to  those  of  modern 
days.a  Of  the  stronger  and  more  ferocious  dogs  there  is,  however,  occa- 
sional mention.  The  bull-dog  of  modern  date  does  not  excel  the  one 
(possibly  of  nearly  the  same  race)  that  was  presented  to  Alexander  the 
Great,  and  that  boldly  seized  a  ferocious  lion,  or  another  that  would  not 
quit  his  hold,  although  one  leg  and  then  another  was  cut  off. 

It  would  be  difficult  and  foreign  to  the  object  of  this  work  fully  to  trace 
the  early  history  of  the  dog.  Both  in  Greece  and  in  Rome  he  was  highly 
estimated.  Alexander  built  a  city  in  honour  of  a  dog ;  and  the  Emperor 
Hadrian  decreed  the  most  solemn  rites  of  sepulture  to  another  on  account 
of  his  sagacity  and  fidelity. 

The  translator  of  Arrian  imagines  that  the  use  of  the  pugnaces  (fight- 
ing) and  the  sagaces  (intelligent) — the  more  ferocious  dogs,  and  those 
who  artfully  circumvented  and  caught  their  prey — was  known  in  the 
earlier  periods  of  Greek  and  Roman  history,  but  that  the  celeres,  the  dogs 
of  speed,  the  greyhounds  of  every  kind,  were  peculiar  to  the  British 
islands,  or  to  the  western  and  northern  continents  of  Europe,  the  interior 
and  the  produce  of  which  were  in  those  days  unknown  to  the  Greeks  and 
Romans.  By  most  authors  who  have  inquired  into  the  origin  of  these 
varieties  of  the  dog  the  sagaces  have  been  generally  assigned  to  Greece — 
the  pugnaces  to  Asia — and  the  celeres  to  the  Celtic  nations. 

Of  the  aboriginal  country  of  the  latter  there  can  be  little  doubt ;  but  the 
accounts  that  are  given  of  the  English  mastiff  at  the  invasion  of  Britain 
by  the  Romans,  and  the  early  history  of  the  English  hound,  which  was  once 
peculiar  to  this  country,  and  at  the  present  day  degenerates  in  every  other, 
would  go  far  to  prove  that  these  breeds  also  are  indigenous  to  our  island. 

Oppian  thus  describes  the  hunting  dog  as  he  finds  him  in  Britain : — 
"  There  is,  besides,  an  excellent  kind  of  scenting  dogs,  though  small,  yet 
worthy  of  estimation.  They  are  fed  by  the  fierce  nation  of  painted  Bri- 
tons, who  call  them  agascei.  In  size  they  resemble  worthless  greedy 
house-dogs  that  gape  under  tables.  They  are  crooked,  lean,  coarse-haired, 
and  heavy-eyed,  but  armed  with  powerful  claws  and  deadly  teeth.  The 
agascBus  is  of  good  nose  and  most  excellent  in  following  scent."  b 

Among  the  savage  dogs  of  ancient  times  were  the  Hyrcanian,  said,  on 
account  of  their  extreme  ferocity,  to  have  been  crossed  with  the  tiger, — 
the  Locrian,  chiefly  employed  in  hunting  the  boar, — the  Pannonian,  used 
in  war  as  well  as  in  the  chace,  and  by  whom  the  first  charge  on  the  enemy 
was  always  made, — and  the  Molossian,  of  Epirus,  likewise  trained  to  war 
as  well  as  to  the  honours  of  the  amphitheatre  and  the  dangers  of  the  chace. 
This  last  breed  had  one  redeeming  quality — an  inviolable  attachment  to 
their  owners.  This  attachment  was  reciprocal ;  for  it  is  said  that  the  Mo- 
lossi  used  to  weep  over  their  faithful  quadruped  companions  slain  in  war. 

-<Elian  relates  that  one  of  them,  and  his  owner,  so  much  distinguished 
themselves  at  the  battle  of  Marathon,  that  the  effigy  of  the  dog  was  placed 
on  the  same  tablet  with  that  of  his  master. 

Soon  after  Britain  was  discovered  the  pugnaces  of  Epirus  were  pitted 
against  those  of  our  island,  and,  according  to  the  testimony  of  Gratius, 
completely  beaten.  A  variety  of  this  class,  but  as  large  and  as  ferocious, 
was  employed  to  guard  the  sheep  and  cattle,  or  to  watch  at  the  door  of 

a  New  Sporting  Magazine,  vol.  xiv.  p.  97. 
b  Oppian's  Cyuegeticus,  lib.  i.  v.  468—480. 


8  EABLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DOG. 

the  house,  or  to  follow  the  owner  on  any  excursion  of  business  or  of  plea- 
sure. Gratius  says  of  these  dogs,  that  they  have  no  pretensions  to  the 
deceitful  commendation  of  form ;  but,  at  the  time  of  need,  when  courage  is 
required  of  them,  most  excellent  mastiffs  are  not  to  be  preferred  to  them. 

The  account  of  the  British  pugnaces  of  former  times,  and  also  of  the 
sagaces  and  celeres,  will  be  best  given  when  treating  of  their  present  state 
and  comparative  value.  In  describing  the  different  breeds  of  dogs,  some 
anecdotes  will  be  related  of  their  sagacity  and  fidelity  ;  a  few  previous 
remarks,  however,  may  be  admissible. 

A  young  man  lost  his  life  by  falling  from  one  of  the  precipices  of  the 
Helvellyn  mountains.  Three  months  afterwards  his  remains  were  dis- 
covered at  the  bottom  of  a  ravine,  and  his  faithful  dog,  almost  a  skeleton, 
still  guarding  them.  Sir  Walter  Scott  beautifully  describes  the  scene : 

Dark-green  was  the  spot,  'mid  the  brown  mountain  heather, 

Where  the  pilgrim  of  nature  lay  stretched  in  decay ; 
Like  the  corps  of  an  outcast,  abandoned  to  weather, 
Till  the  mountain  winds  wasted  the  tenantless  clay ; 
Nor  yet  quite  deserted,  though  lonely  extended, 
For,  faithful  in  death,  his  mute  favourite  attended, 
The  much-loved  remains  of  her  master  defended, 

And  chased  the  hill-fox  and  the  raven  away. 
How  long  didst  thou  think  that  his  silence  was  slumber  ? 

When  the  wind  waved  his  garments  how  oft  didst  thou  start  ? 
How  many  long  days  and  long  weeks  didst  thou  number 

Ere  he  faded  before  thee,  the  friend  of  thy  heart? 

Burchell,  in  his  Travels  in  Africa,  places  the  connexion  between  man 
and  the  dog,  and  the  good  qualities  of  this  animal,  in  an  interesting  point 
of  view.  A  pack  of  dogs  of  various  descriptions  formed  a  necessary  part  of 
his  caravan,  occasionally  to  provide  him  with  food,  but  oftener  to  defend 
him  from  wild  beasts  or  robbers.  "  While  almost  every  other  quadruped 
fears  man  as  his  most  formidable  enemy,"  says  this  interesting  traveller, 
"  there  is  one  who  regards  him  as  his  companion,  and  follows  him  as  his 
friend.  We  must  not  mistake  the  nature  of  the  case.  It  is  not  because 
we  train  him  to  our  use,  and  have  made  choice  of  him  in  preference  to 
other  animals,  but  because  this  particular  species  of  animal  feels  a  natural 
desire  to  be  useful  to  man,  and,  from  spontaneous  impulse,  attaches  him- 
self to  him.  Were  it  not  so,  we  should  see  in  various  countries  an  equal 
familiarity  with  other  quadrupeds,  according  to  their  habits,  and  the  taste 
or  caprices  of  different  nations ;  but,  everywhere,  it  is  the  dog  only  that 
takes  delight  in  associating  with  us,  and  in  sharing  our  abode.  It  is  he 
who  knows  us  personally,  watches  over  us,  and  warns  us  of  danger.  It  is 
impossible  for  the  naturalist  not  to  feel  a  conviction  that  this  friendship 
between  creatures  so  different  from  each  other  must  be  the  result  of  the 
laws  of  nature;  nor  can  the  humane  and  feeling  mind  avoid  the  belief  that 
kindness  to  those  animals,  from  which  he  derives  continued  and  essential 
assistance,  is  part  of  the  moral  duty  of  man. 

"  Often  in  the  silence  of  the  night,  when  all  my  people  have  been  fast 
asleep  around  the  fire,  have  I  stood  to  contemplate  these  faithful  animals 
watching  by  their  side,  and  have  learned  to  esteem  them  for  their  social 
inclination  towards  mankind.  When,  wandering  over  pathless  deserts, 
oppressed  with  vexation  and  distress  at  the  conduct  of  my  own  men,  I  have 
turned  to  these  as  my  only  friends,  and  felt  how  much  inferior  to  them  was 
man  when  actuated  only  by  selfish  views." 

Of  the  stanchness  and  incorruptible  fidelity  of  the  dog,  and  his  disre- 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DOG.  9 

gard  of  personal  inconvenience  and  want,  when  employed  in  our  service, 
it  is  impossible  to  entertain  a  doubt.  We  have  sometimes  thought  that 
the  attachment  of  the  dog  to  its  master  was  increased,  or,  at  least,  the 
exhibition  of  it,  by  the  penury  of  the  owner.  At  all  events  one  fact  is 
plain  enough,  that,  while  poverty  drives  away  from  us  many  a  companion 
of  our  happier  hours,  it  was  never  known  to  diminish  the  love  of  our 
quadruped  friend. 

The  early  history  of  the  dog  has  been  described,  and  the  abomination  in 
which  he  was  held  by  the  Israelites.  At  no  great  distance  of  time,  how- 
ever, we  find  him,  almost  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Palestine,  in  one  of  the 
islands  of  the  Ionian  Sea,  the  companion  and  the  friend  of  princes,  and 
deserving  their  regard.  The  reader  will  forgive  a  somewhat  abbreviated 
account  of  the  last  meeting  of  Ulysses  and  his  dog. 

Twenty  years  had  passed  since  Argus,  the  favourite  dog  of  Ulysses,  had 
been  parted  from  his  master.  The  monarch  at  length  wended  his  way 
homewards,  and,  disguised  as  a  beggar,  for  his  life  would  have  been  sacri- 
ficed had  he  been  known,  stood  at  the  entrance  of  his  palace-door.  There 
he  met  with  an  old  dependent,  who  had  formerly  served  him  with  fidelity 
and  who  was  yet  faithful  to  his  memory ;  but  age  and  hardship  and  care, 
and  the  disguise  which  he  now  wore,  had  so  altered  the  wanderer  that  the 
good  Eumseus  had  not  the  most  distant  suspicion  with  whom  he  was  con- 
versing; but — 

Near  to  the  gates,  conferring  as  they  drew, 
Argus  the  dog  his  ancient  master  knew, 
And,  not  unconscious  of  the  voice  and  tread, 
Lifts  to  the  sound  his  ears,  and  rears  his  head. 
He  knew  his  Lord,  he  knew,  and  strove  to  meet ; 
In  vain  he  strove  to  crawl  and  kiss  his  feet : 
Yet,  all  he  could,  his  tail,  his  ears,  his  eyes 
Salute  his  master,  and  confess  his  joys.a 

In  Daniel's  Rural  Sports,  the  account  of  a  nobleman  and  his  dog  is 
given.  The  nobleman  had  been  absent  two  years  on  foreign  service.  On 
his  return  this  faithful  creature  was  the  first  to  recognise  him,  as  he  came 
through  the  court-yard,  and  he  flew  to  welcome  his  old  master  and  friend. 
He  sprung  upon  him  ;  his  agitation  and  his  joy  knew  not  any  bounds  ;  and 
at  length,  in  the  fulness  of  his  transport,  he  fell  at  his  master's  feet  and 
expired. 

We  will  not  further  pursue  this  part  of  our  subject  at  present.  We 
shall  have  other  opportunities  of  speaking  of  the  disinterested  and  devoted 
affection  which  this  noble  animal  is  capable  of  displaying  when  he  occu- 
pies his  proper  situation,  and  discharges  those  offices  for  which  nature 
designed  him.  It  may,  however,  be  added  that  this  power  of  tracing  back 
the  dog  to  the  very  earliest  periods  of  history,  and  the  fact  that  he  then 
seemed  to  be  as  sagacious,  as  faithful,  and  as  valuable  as  at  the  present 
day,  strongly  favour  the  opinion  that  he  descended  from  no  inferior  and 
comparatively  worthless  animal, — that  he  was  not  the  progeny  of  the  wolf, 
the  jackal,  or  the  fox,  but  he  was  originally  created,  somewhat  as  we  now 
find  him,  the  associate  and  the  friend  of  man. 

If,  within  the  first  thousand  years  after  the  Deluge,  we  observe  that 
divine  honours  were  paid  to  him,  we  can  scarcely  be  brought  to  believe 
his  wolfish  genealogy.  The  most  savage  animals  are  capable  of  affection 
for  those  to  whom  they  have  been  accustomed,  and  by  whom  they  have 
been  well  treated,  and  therefore  we  give  full  credit  to  several  accounts  of 

a  Pope's  Odyssey,  xvii. 


10  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  DOG. 

this  sort  related  of  the  wolf,  the  lion,  and  even  the  cat  and  the  reptile : 
but  in  no  other  animal — in  no  other,  even  in  the  genus  Canis — do  we  find 
the  qualities  of  the  domestic  dog,  or  the  slightest  approach  to  them.  "  To 
his  master  he  flies  with  alacrity,"  says  the  eloquent  Buffon,  "  and  sub- 
missively lays  at  his  feet  all  his  courage,  strength,  and  talent.  A  glance 
of  the  eye  is  sufficient ;  for  he  understands  the  smallest  indications  of  his 
will.  He  has  all  the  ardour  of  friendship,  and  fidelity  and  constancy  in  his 
affections,  which  man  can  have.  Neither  interest  nor  desire  of  revenge 
can  corrupt  him,  and  he  has  no  fear  but  that  of  displeasing.  He  is  all 
zeal  and  obedience.  He  speedily  forgets  ill-usage,  or  only  recollects  it  to 
make  returning  attachment  the  stronger.  He  licks  the  hand  which  causes 
him  pain,  and  subdues  his  anger  by  submission.  The  training  of  the  dog 
seems  to  have  been  the  first  art  invented  by  man,  and  the  fruit  of  that  art 
was  the  conquest  and  peaceable  possession  of  the  earth."  "  Man,"  says 
Burns,  "  is  the  God  of  the  dog ;  he  knows  no  other ;  and  see  how  he  wor- 
ships him.  With  what  reverence  he  crouches  at  his  feet — with  what 
reverence  he  looks  up  to  him  —  with  what  delight  he  fawns  upon  him,  and 
with  what  cheerful  alacrity  he  obeys  him  !" 

If  any  of  the  lower  animals  bear  about  them  the  impress  of  the  Divine 
hand,  it  is  found  in  the  dog :  many  others  are  plainly  and  decidedly  more 
or  less  connected  with  the  welfare  of  the  human  being ;  but  this  con- 
nexion and  its  effects  are  limited  to  a  few  points,  or  often  to  one  alone. 
The  dog,  different,  yet  the  same,  in  every  region,  seems  to  be  formed  ex- 
pressly to  administer  to  our  comforts  and  to  our  pleasure.  He  displays  a 
versatility,  and  yet  a  perfect  unity  of  power  and  character,  which  mark 
him  as  our  destined  servant,  and,  still  more,  as  our  companion  and  friend. 
Other  animals  may  be  brought  to  a  certain  degree  of  familiarity,  and 
may  display  much  affection  and  gratitude.  There  was  scarcely  an  animal 
in  the  menagerie  of  the  Zoological  Society  that  did  not  acknowledge  the 
superintendent  as  his  friend ;  but  it  was  only  a  casual  intercourse,  and 
might  be  dissolved  by  a  word  or  look.  At  the  hour  of  feeding,  the  brute 
principle  reigned  supreme,  and  the  companion  of  other  hours  would  be 
sacrificed  if  he  dared  to  interfere ;  but  the  connexion  between  man  and 
the  dog,  no  lapse  of  time,  no  change  of  circumstances,  no  infliction  of 
evil  can  dissolve.  We  must,  therefore,  look  far  beyond  the  wolf  for  the 
prototype  of  the  dog. 

Cuvier  eloquently  states  that  the  dog  exhibits  the  most  complete  and 
the  most  useful  conquest  that  man  has  made.  Each  individual  is 
entirely  devoted  to  his  master,  adopts  his  manners,  distinguishes  and 
defends  his  property,  and  remains  attached  to  him  even  unto  death ;  and 
all  this  springing  not  from  mere  necessity,  or  from  constraint,  but  simply 
from  gratitude  and  true  friendship.  The  swiftness,  the  strength,  and  the 
highly  developed  power  of  smelling  of  the  dog,  have  made  him  a  power- 
ful ally  of  man  against  the  other  animals ;  and,  perhaps,  these  qualities  in 
the  dog  were  necessary  to  the  establishment  of  society.  It  is  the  only 
animal  that  has  followed  the  human  being  all  over  the  earth. 

There  is  occasionally  a  friendship  existing  between  dogs  resembling  that 
which  is  found  in  the  human  being.  The  author  pledges  himself  as  to 
the  accuracy  of  the  following  little  anecdote.  Two  dogs,  the  property  of 
a  gentlemen  at  Shrewsbury,  had  been  companions  for  many  years,  until 
one  of  them  died  of  old  age.  The  survivor  immediately  began  to  manifest 
an  extraordinary  degree  of  restless  anxiety,  searching  for  his  old  associate 
in  all  his  former  haunts,  and  refusing  every  kind  of  food.  He  gradually 


ZOOLOGICAL  CLASSIFICATION  OF  THE  DOG,  1 1 

wasted  away,  and,  at  the  expiration  of  the  tenth  day,  he  died,  the  victim 
of  an  attachment  that  would  have  done  honour  to  man. 

The  DOG  belongs  to  the  division  of  animals  termed  VERTEBRATED  (see 
'The  Horse,'  2nd  edition,  page  106)  because  it  has  a  cranium  or  skull, 
and  a  spine  or  range  of  VERTEBRA  proceeding  from  it.  It  ranks  under 
the  class  MAMMALIA,  because  it  has  teats,  by  which  the  female  suckles 
her  young ;  the  tribe  UNGUICUL.ATA,  because  its  extremities  are  armed 
with  nails ;  the  order  DIGITIGRADES,  because  it  walks  principally  on 
its  toes.  The  genus  CANIS  has  two  tubercular  teeth  behind  the  large 
carnivorous  tooth  in  the  upper  jaw ;  and  the  sub-genus  familiaris, 
the  DOG,  has  the  pupils  of  the  eye  circular,  while  those  of  the  wolf  are 
oblique,  and  those  of  the  fox  upright  and  long. 

There  has  been  some  dispute  whether  the  various  species  of  dogs  are 
of  different  origin,  or  sprung  from  one  common  source.  When  we  con- 
sider the  change  that  climate  and  breeding  effect  in  the  same  species 
of  dog,  and  contrast  the  rough  Irish  or  Highland  greyhound  with  the 
smoother  one  of  the  southern  parts  of  Britain,  or  the  more  delicate  one  of 
Greece,  or  the  diminutive  but  beautifully  formed  one  of  Italy,  or  the 
hairless  one  of  Africa,  or  Brazil — or  the  small  Blenheim  spaniel  with  the 
magnificent  Newfoundland  ;  if  also  we  observe  many  of  them  varied  by 
accident,  and  that  accidental  variety  diligently  cultivated  into  a  new 
species,  altogether  different  in  form  or  use,  we  shall  find  no  difficulty 
in  believing  that  they  might  be  derived  from  one  common  origin. 

One  of  the  most  striking  proofs  of  the  influence  of  climate  on  the  form 
and  character  of  this  animal,  occurs  in  the  bull-dog.  When  transported 
to  India  he  becomes,  in  a  few  years,  greatly  altered  in  form,  loses  all  his 
former  courage  and  ferocity,  and  becomes  a  perfect  coward. 

It  is  probable  that  all  dogs  sprung  from  one  common  source,  but 
climate,  food,  and  cross-breeding  caused  variations  of  form,  which  sug- 
gested particular  uses ;  and  these  being  either  designedly  or  accidentally 
perpetuated,  the  various  breeds  of  dogs  thus  arose,  and  they  have  be- 
come numerous  in  proportion  to  the  progress  of  civilization.  Among  the 
ruder,  or  savage  tribes,  they  possess  but  one  form ;  but  the  ingenuity  of 
man  has  devised  many  inventions  to  increase  his  comforts  :  he  has  varied 
and  multiplied  the  characters  and  kinds  of  domestic  animals  for  the  same 
purpose,  and  hence  the  various  breeds  of  horses,  and  cattle,  and  dogs. 

The  parent  stock  it  is  now  impossible  to  trace ;  but  the  wild  dog,  where- 
ever  found  on  the  continent  of  Asia,  or  Northern  Europe,  has  nearly  the 
same  character,  and  bears  no  inconsiderable  resemblance  to  the  British 
fox-dog,  while  many  of  those  from  the  Southern  Ocean  can  scarcely  be 
distinguished  from  the  English  lurcher.  There  is,  however,  no  more 
difficulty  in  this  respect  with  regard  to  the  dog,  than  any  other  of  our  do- 
mesticated animals.  Climate,  or  chance,  produced  a  change  in  certain 
individuals,  and  the  sagacity  of  man,  or,  perhaps,  mere  chance,  founded 
on  these  accidental  varieties  numerous  breeds  possessed  of  certain  distinct 
characteristic  properties.  The  degeneracy  of  the  dog,  also,  in  different 
countries,  cannot  for  a  moment  be  disputed. 

The  most  natural  arrangement  of  all  the  varieties  of  the  dog  is  according 
to  the  development  of  the  frontal  sinus  and  the  cerebral  cavity,  or,  in 
other  words,  the  power  of  scent,  and  the  degree  of  intelligence.  This 


12  ZOOLOGICAL  CLASSIFICATION  OF  THE  DOG. 

classification  originated  with  M.  F.  Cuvier,  and  has  been  adopted  by  most 
naturalists.     He  reckoned  three  divisions  of  the  dog  : — 

I.  Those  having  the  head  more  or  less  elongated,  and  the  parietal  bones 
of  the  skull  widest  at  the  base  and  gradually  approaching  towards  each 
other  as  they  ascend,  the  condyls  of  the  lower  jaw  being  on  the  same 
line  with  the  upper  molar  teeth.     The   Greyhound  and  all  its  varieties 
belong  to  this  class. 

II.  The  head  moderately  elongated,  and  the  parietals  diverging  from 
each  other  for  a  certain  space  as  they  rise  upon  the  side  of  the  head, 
enlarging  the  cerebral  cavity  and  the  frontal  sinus.     To  this  class  belong 
our  most  valuable  dogs, — the  Spaniel,  Setter,  Pointer,  Hound,  and  the 
Sheep-dog. 

III.  The  muzzle  more  or  less  shortened,    the  frontal  sinus  enlarged, 
and  the  cranium   elevated,   and  diminished  in  capacity.     To  this  class 
belong  some  of  the  Terriers,  and  a  great  many  dogs  that  might  very  well 
be  spared. 

This  division  of  the  different  species  of  the  dog  is  adopted  here  as  being 
the  most  simple,  intelligible,  and  satisfactory. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG. 


13 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG. 


THE    THIBET    DOG. 


FIRST  DIVISION. 

The  head  more  or  less  elongated,  the  parietal  bones  widest  at  the  base 
and  gradually  approaching  to  each  other  as  they  ascend,  and  the  condyls 
of  the  lower  jaw  being  on  the  same  line  with  the  upper  molar  teeth. 

To  this  division  belong  the  greater  number  of  the 


WILD  DOGS. 


The  wild  dog,  as  existing  in  considerable  numbers  or  communities, 
seems  to  be  nearly  extirpated  in  the  southern  parts  of  Europe  ;  but  there 
are  several  cases  on  record  of  dogs,  having  assumed  the  character  of  the 
wild  race  from  which  they  had  descended,  abandoning  their  state  of 
domestication,  and  reasserting  their  native  independence.  A  black  grey- 
hound bitch,  belonging  to  a  gentleman  in  Scarisbrick,  in  Lancashire,  though 


14  FIRST  DIVISION  OF  THE 

she  had  apparently  been  well  broken  in,  and  always  well  used,  ran  away 
from  the  habitation  of  her  master,  and  betook  herself  to  the  woods.  She 
killed  a  great  number  of  hares  and  made  free  with  the  sheep,  and  became 
an  intolerable  nuisance  to  the  neighbourhood.  She  was  occasionally  seen, 
and  the  depredations  that  were  committed  were  brought  home  to  her. 
Many  were  the  attempts  made  to  entrap  or  destroy  her ;  but  in  vain : 
for  more  than  six  months  she  eluded  the  vigilance  of  her  pursuers.  At 
length  she  was  observed  to  creep  into  a  hole  in  an  old  barn.  She  was 
caught  as  she  came  out,  and  the  barn  being  searched  three  whelps  were 
found,  which,  very  foolishly,  were  destroyed. 

The  bitch  evinced  the  utmost  ferocity,  and,  although  well  secured, 
attempted  to  seize  every  one  who  approached  her.  She  was,  however, 
dragged  home  and  treated  with  kindness.  By  degrees  her  ferocity  abated. 
In  the  course  of  two  months,  she  became  perfectly  reconciled  to  her 
original  abode,  and,  a  twelvemonth  afterwards  (1822),  she  ran  successfully 
several  courses.  There  was  still  a  degree  of  wildness  in  her  appearance ; 
but,  although  at  perfect  liberty,  she  seemed  to  be  altogether  reconciled  to 
a  domestic  life. 

In  1784  a  dog  was  left  by  a  smuggling  vessel  on  the  coast  of  Northum- 
berland. He  soon  began  to  worry  the  sheep  for  his  subsistence,  and  did 
so  much  mischief  that  he  caused  very  considerable  alarm.  He  was  fre- 
quently pursued  by  hounds  and  greyhounds ;  but  when  the  dogs  came  up 
he  lay  upon  his  back  as  if  supplicating  for  mercy,  and  in  that  position  they 
would  never  hurt  him.  He  therefore  lay  quietly  until  the  hunters  ap- 
proached, when  he  made  off  without  being  followed  by  the  hounds  until 
they  were  again  excited  to  the  pursuit.  He  one  day  led  them  30  miles  in 
this  way.  It  was  more  than  three  months  before  he  was  caught,  and  was 
then  shot.a 

A  dog  with  every  character  of  the  wild  one  has  occasionally  been  seen 
in  some  of  the  forests  of  Germany,  and  among  the  Pyrenean  mountains ; 
but  he  has  rarely  been  found  gregarious  there.  In  the  country  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  Gulf  of  Venice  wild  dogs  are  more  frequent.  They 
increase  in  the  Austrian  and  Turkish  dominions,  and  are  found  on  almost 
every  part  of  the  coast  of  the  Black  Sea,  but  even  there  they  rarely 
gather  in  flocks:  they  do  not  howl  in  concert,  as  the  wolf;  nor  are  they 
the  precursors  of  other  and  larger  beasts,  like  the  jackal.  Most  of  these 
dogs  have  the  muzzle  and  head  elongated,  the  ears  erect,  triangular,  and 
small,  the  body  and  neck  large  and  muscular,  and  the  tail  short,  but  with 
a  brush  of  crisped  hair.  In  many  parts  of  Arabia  the  wild  dog — or  dakhun 
— is  occasionally  found.  In  Persia,  they  are  most  decidedly  congregated 
together,  and  still  more  so  in  almost  every  part  of  India.b 

a  Annals  of  Sporting,  voL  vi.  p.  99.  weather ;  for,  if  one  drop  of  water  from  a 
b  The  superstition  of  the  Arabians  and  dog  should  fall  on  their  raiment,  their  de- 
Turks  with  regard  to  dogs  is  somewhat  votion  would  be  interrupted  and  useless, 
singular :  neither  have  they  much  affec-  They  who  are  fond  of  hunting  make  their 
tion  for  these  animals,  or  suffer  them  to  be  religion  subservient  to  their  pleasure,  and 
in  or  near  the  camp,  except  to  guard  it  in  say  that  greyhounds  and  setters  are  ex- 
the  night.  They  have,  however,  some  cepted  from  the  general  rule,  because  when 
charity  for  the  females  that  have  whelps.  not  running  these  dogs  are  tied  up  where 
As  for  other  dogs,  they  feed  them  well,  nothing  unclean  can  reach  them,  and  they 
and  give  them  good  words,  but  never  are  never  suffered  to  eat  any  thing  unclean, 
touch  them  nor  go  near  them,  because  Their  opinion  is  the  same  with  regard  to 
dogs  are  regarded  as  unclean  animals.  small  dogs,  which  are  kept  with  great  care, 
They  particularly  drive  them  away  in  wet  and  no  one  willingly  injures  a  dog,  or,  if 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  15 

Mr.  Hodgson  has  favoured  the  Zoological  Society  with  an  account  of 

THE  WILD   DOG  OF  NEPAL, 

the  budnsu,  and,  finding  it  more  or  less  prevailing  through  the  whole  of 
Northern  India,  and  even  southward  of  the  coast  of  Coromandel,  he  thought 
that  he  had  discovered  the  primitive  race  of  the  dog.  This  is  a  point  that 
can  never  be  decided.  "  These  dogs  hunt  their  prey  by  night,  as  well  as 
by  day,  in  packs  of  from  six  to  ten  individuals,  maintaining  the  chace  more 
by  the  scent  than  by  the  eye,  and  generally  succeeding  by  dint  of  strength 
and  perseverance.  While  hunting,  they  bark  like  the  hound,  yet  the 
bark  is  peculiar  and  equally  unlike  that  of  the  cultivated  breeds  of  dogs, 
and  the  cries  of  the  jackal  and  the  fox."  Bishop  Heber  gives  the  follow- 
ing account  of  them.  "  They  are  larger  and  stronger  than  a  fox,  which 
in  the  circumstances  of  form  and  fur  they  much  resemble.  They  hunt, 
however,  in  packs,  give  tongue  like  dogs,  and  possess  an  exquisite  scent. 
They  make  of  course  tremendous  havoc  among  the  game  in  these  hills ; 
but  that  mischief  they  are  said  amply  to  repay  by  destroying  wild  beasts 
and  even  tigers."  a 

Wild  dogs  are  susceptible  of  certain  social  combinations.  In  Egypt, 
Constantinople,  and  throughout  the  whole  of  the  East,  there  are  in  every 
village  troops  of  wandering  dogs  who  belong  to  no  particular  person. 
Each  troop  has  its  own  quarter  of  the  place ;  and,  if  any  wander  into  a 
quarter  which  does  not  belong  to  him, its  inhabitants  unite  together  and  chase 
him  out.  At  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  there  are  many  dogs  half-starved. 
On  going  from  home  the  natives  induce  two  or  more  of  these  animals 
to  accompany  them,  warn  them  of  the  approach  of  any  ferocious  animal, 
and,  if  any  of  the  jackals  approach  the  walls  during  the  night,  they  utter 
the  most  piercing  cries,  and  at  this  signal  every  dog  sallies  out,  and, 
uniting  together,  put  the  jackals  to  speedy  flight.1* 

The  wild  Nepal  dogs  caught  when  at  an  adult  age  make  no  approach 
towards  domestication ;  but  a  young  one,  which  Mr.  Hodgson  obtained 
when  it  was  not  more  than  a  month  old,  became  sensible  to  caresses,  and 
manifested  as  much  intelligence  as  any  sporting  dog  of  the  same  age.0 

Captain  T.  Williamson  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  ferocious 
character  of  some  of  these  wild  dogs.  "  They  have  considerable  resem- 
blance to  the  jackal  in  form.  They  are  remarkably  savage,  and  frequently 
will  approach  none  but  their  doonahs  or  keepers,  not  allowing  their  own 
masters  to  come  near  them.  Some  of  them  are  very  fleet ;  but  they  are 
not  to  be  depended  upon  in  coursing ;  for  they  are  apt  suddenly  to  give 
up  the  chace  when  it  is  a  severe  one,  and,  indeed,  they  will  too  often  prefer 
a  sheep  or  a  goat  to  a  hare.  In  hog-hunting  they  are  more  valuable.  It 
seems  to  suit  their  temper  and  they  appear  to  enjoy  the  snapping  and  the 
snarling,  incident  to  that  species  of  sports." 

He  says  that  many  persons  affect  to  treat  the  idea  of  degeneration  in 
quadrupeds  with  ridicule ;  but  all  who  have  been  any  considerable 
time  resident  in  India  must  be  satisfied  that  dogs  of  European  breed  be- 
come, after  every  successive  generation,  more  and  more  similar  to  the 

he  should  injure  purposely,  or  destroy  one  b  Histoire  du  Chien,  par  Elzear  Blaze, 

of  them,  the  law  would  punish  him.     Che-  p.  54. 

valier  Darvieux's  Travels  in  Arabia  De-          c  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society, 

serta,  1718,  p.  155.  Part  I.  1833. 
a  Heber's  Narrative,  p.  500. 


16  FIRST  DIVISION  OF  THE 

pariah,  or  indigenous  dog  of  that  country.  The  hounds  are  the  most 
rapid  in  their  decline,  and,  except  in  the  form  of  their  ears,  they  are 
very  much  like  many  of  the  village  curs.  Greyhounds  and  pointers  also 
rapidly  decline,  although  with  occasional  exceptions.  Spaniels  and  terriers 
deteriorate  less,  and  spaniels  of  eight  or  nine  generations,  and  without  a 
cross  from  Europe,  are  not  only  as  good  as,  but  far  more  beautiful  than, 
their  ancestors.  The  climate  is  too  severe  for  mastiffs,  and  they  do  not 
possess  sufficient  stamina ;  but,  crossed  by  the  East  Indian  greyhound,  they 
are  invaluable  in  hunting  the  hog.a 

Colonel  Sykes,  at  one  of  the  meetings  of  the  Zoological  Society,  pro- 
duced a  specimen  of 

THE  WILD  DOG  OF  DAK  HUN, 

or  Deccan,  a  part  of  India  far  to  the  south  of  Nepal,  and  gave  the  fol- 
lowing description  of  this  supposed  primitive  dog : — "  Its  head  is  com- 
pressed and  elongated,  but  its  muzzle  not  very  sharp.  The  eyes  are 
oblique,  the  pupils  round,  and  the  irides  light-brown.  The  expression 
of  the  countenance  is  that  of  a  coarse  ill-natured  Persian  greyhound, 
without  any  resemblance  to  the  jackal,  the  fox,  or  the  wolf.  The  ears 
are  long,  erect,  and  somewhat  rounded  at  the  top.  The  limbs  remarkably 
large  and  strong  in  relation  to  the  bulk  of  the  animal.  The  size  is  inter- 
mediate between  the  wolf  and  the  jackal.  The  neck  long,  the  body 
elongated,  and  the  entire  dog  of  a  red-brown  colour.  None  of  the  do- 
mesticated dogs  of  Dakhun  are  common  in  Europe,  but  those  of  Dakhun 
and  Nepal  are  very  similar  in  all  their  characters.  There  is  also  a  dog 
in  Dakhun  with  hair  so  short  as  to  make  him  appear  naked.  It  is  called 
the  polugar  dog. 

THE  WILD  DOG  OF  THE  MAHRATTAS 

possesses  a  similar  conformation  ;  and  the  fact  is,  that  the  East  Indian 
wild  dog  is  essentially  the  same  in  every  part  of  that  immense  extent  of 
country.  There  is  no  more  reason,  however,  for  concluding  that  it  was 
the  primitive  dog,  than  for  conferring  on  the  Indian  cattle  the  same 
honour  among  the  ruminants.  The  truth  of  the  matter  is  that  we  have 
no  guide  what  was  the  original  breed  in  any  country.  The  lapse  of 
4,000  years  would  effect  strange  alterations  in  the  breeds.  The  common 
name  of  this  dog,  in  the  track  lying  between  South  Bahar  and  the 
Mahratta  frontier  towards  Maghore,  is 

DHOLE, 

the  Chryseus  Scylex  of  Hamilton  Smith. 

Captain  Williamson,  in  his  Oriental  Field  Sports,  gives  the  following 
account  of  the  Dholes  : — 

"  They  are  to  be  found  chiefly,  or  only,  in  the  country  from  Midna- 
pore  to  Chamu,  and  even  there  are  not  often  to  be  met  with.  They  are 
of  the  size  of  a  small  greyhound.  Their  countenance  is  enlivened  by 
unusually  brilliant  eyes.  Their  body,  which  is  slender  and  deep-chested, 
is  thinly  covered  by  a  coat  of  hair  of  a  reddish-brown  or  bay  colour.  The 
tail  is  dark  towards  its  extremity.  The  limbs  are  light,  compact,  and 

R  Williamson's  Oriental  Field  Sports. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  17 

strong-,  and  equally  calculated  for  speed  and  power.  They  resemble 
many  of  the  common  pariah  dogs  in  form,  but  the  singularity  of  their 
colour  and  marks  at  once  demonstrate  an  evident  distinction. 

"  These  dogs  are  said  to  be  perfectly  harmless  if  unmolested.  They  do 
not  willingly  approach  persons ;  but,  if  they  chance  to  meet  any  in  their 
course,  they  do  not  show  any  particular  anxiety  to  escape.  They  view 
the  human  race  rather  as  objects  of  curiosity,  than  either  of  apprehension 
or  enmity.  The  natives  who  reside  near  the  Ranochitty  and  Katcunsandy 
passes,  in  which  vicinity  the  dholes  may  frequently  be  seen,  describe  them 
as  confining  their  attacks  entirely  to  wild  animals,  and  assert  that  they 
will  not  prey  on  sheep,  goats,  &c. ;  but,  others,  in  the  country  extending 
southward  from  Jelinah  and  Mechungunge,  maintain  that  cattle  are  fre- 
quently lost  by  their  depredations.  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the 
dhole  is  not  particularly  ceremonious,  but  will,  when  opportunity  offers, 
and  a  meal  is  wanting,  obtain  it  at  the  expense  of  the  neighbouring 
village. 

"  The  peasants  likewise  state  that  the  dhole  is  eager  in  proportion  to 
the  size  and  powers  of  the  animal  he  hunts,  preferring  the  elk  to  every 
other  kind  of  deer,  and  particularly  seeking  the  royal  tiger.  It  is  pro- 
bable that  the  dhole  is  the  principal  check  on  the  multiplication  of  the 
tiger ;  and,  although  incapable  individually,  or  perhaps  in  small  numbers, 
to  effect  the  destruction  of  so  large  and  ferocious  an  animal,  may,  from 
their  custom  of  hunting  in  packs,  easily  overcome  any  smaller  beast  found 
in  the  wilds  of  India. 

"  They  run  mute,  except  that  they  sometimes  utter  a  whimpering 
kind  of  note,  similar  to  that  sometimes  expressed  by  dogs  when  approach- 
ing their  prey.  This  may  be  expressive  of  their  own  gratification,  or 
anxiety,  or  may  serve  as  a  guide  to  other  dholes  to  join  in  the  chace. 
The  speed  of  the  dhole  is  so  strongly  marked  in  his  form  as  to  render  it 
probable  no  animal  in  the  catalogue  of  game  could  escape  him  for  any 
distance.  Many  of  the  dholes  are  destroyed  in  these  contests ;  for  the 
tiger,  the  elk,  and  the  boar,  and  even  many  of  the  smaller  classes  of  game 
are  capable  of  making  a  most  obstinate  defence.  Hence  the  breed  of  the 
dholes  is  much  circumscribed." 

THE  THIBET  DOG. 

Mr.  Bennett,  in  his  scientific  and  amusing  description  of  the  Zoological 
Gardens,  gave  the  best  account  we  have  of  this  noble  dog,  and  the  por- 
trait at  the  head  of  this  chapter  is  a  most  faithful  likeness  of  him.  He 
is  bred  in  the  table-land  of  the  Himalaya  mountains  bordering  on  Thibet. 
The  Bhoteas,  by  whom  many  of  them  are  carefully  reared,  come  down  to 
the  low  countries  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year  to  sell  their  borax  and 
musk.  The  women  remain  at  home,  and  they  and  the  flocks  are  most 
sedulously  guarded  by  these  dogs.  They  are  the  defenders  of  almost 
every  considerable  mansion  in  Thibet.  In  an  account  of  an  embassy  to 
the  court  of  the  Teshoo  Llama  in  Thibet,  the  author  says,  that  he  had  to 
pass  by  a  row  of  wooden  cages  containing  a  number  of  large  dogs,  fierce, 
strong,  and  noisy.  They  were  natives  of  Thibet,  and,  whether  savage  by 
nature  or  soured  by  confinement,  they  were  so  impetuously  furious  that 
it  was  unsafe  even  to  approach  their  dens.  Every  writer  who  describes 
these  dogs,  speaks  of  their  noble  size,  and  their  ferocity,  and  antipathy  to 
strangers. 


18  FIRST  DIVISION  OF  THE 

It  is  said,  however,  that  the  Thibet  dog  rapidly  degenerates  when 
removed  from  its  native  country,  and  certainly  the  specimens  which  have 
reached  the  Zoological  Gardens  exhibited  nothing  of  ferocity.  The  one 
that  was  in  that  menagerie  had  a  noble  and  commanding  appearance ;  but 
he  never  attempted  to  do  any  injury. 

The  colour  of  the  Thibet  dog  is  of  a  deep  black,  slightly  clouded  on 
the  sides,  his  feet  alone  and  a  spot  over  each  eye  being  of  a  full  tawny  or 
bright  brown  hue.  He  has  the  broad  short  truncated  muzzle  of  the  mas- 
tiff, and  the  lips  are  still  more  deeply  pendulous.  There  is  also  a  singular 
general  looseness  of  the  skin  on  every  part  of  him. 

THE  PARIAH. 

There  are  several  varieties  of  this  dog.  There  is  a  wild  breed  very 
numerous  in  the  jungles  and  in  some  of  the  lower  ranges  of  the  Himalaya 
mountains.  They  usually  hunt  in  packs,  and  it  is  not  often  that  their 
prey  escapes  them.  They  generally  are  very  thin,  and  of  a  reddish- 
brown  colour,  with  sharp-pointed  ears,  deep  chest,  and  tucked-up  flanks. 
Many  persons  hunt  with  these  dogs  singly,  and  they  are  very  useful. 
They  bring  the  hog  to  bay,  or  indicate  the  course  that  he  has  taken,  or 
distract  his  attention  when  the  sportsman  is  at  hand. 

There  is  also  in  every  inhabited  part  of  the  country  the  poor  desolate 
pariah, — unowned  by  any  one, — daring  to  enter  into  no  house,  but  wander- 
ing about,  and  picking  up  a  living  in  any  way  that  he  can.  He  is,  how- 
ever, of  a  superior  race  to  the  wild  dog,  and  belongs  to  the  second  class 
of  the  dog,  although  mentioned  here  in  order  that  we  may  altogether  quit 
the  dog  of  India.  They  are  neglected  by  the  Hindoos ;  but  the  Moham- 
medans of  India,  and  other  strangers,  consider  it  an  act  of  charity  to 
throw  out  occasionally  a  morsel  of  food  to  them.  They  are  most  of  them 
mongrels ;  but  the  benevolent  Bishop  Heber  does  them  no  more  than 
justice  when  he  says  that  he  "  was  forcibly  struck  at  finding  the  same  dog- 
like  and  amiable  qualities  in  these  neglected  animals  as  in  their  more 
fortunate  brethren  in  Europe." 

Colonel  Sykes  says  of  these  outcasts  that  among  the  pariahs  is  fre- 
quently found  the  turnspit-dog.  There  is  also  a  small  petted  variety  of 
the  pariah,  usually  of  a  white  colour,  and  with  long  silky  hair.  This 
animal  is  taught  to  carry  flambeaux  and  lanterns. 

According  to  Captain  Williamson,  in  some  of  the  ditches  of  the 
Carnatic  forts,  alligators  are  purposely  kept,  and  all  the  pariah  dogs 
found  in  the  forts  are  thrown  into  the  ditches  as  provision  for  these 
monsters.  Some  persons  who  have  kept  tigers  in  cages  have  adopted  the 
same  means  of  supply  for  their  royal  captives,  putting  the  poor  pariah 
through  an  aperture  made  for  the  purpose  in  the  cage ;  and  they  justify 
themselves  by  asserting  that  they  thus  get  rid  of  a  troublesome  breed  of 
curs,  most  of  which  are  unappropriated,  and  which  being  numerous  are 
very  troublesome  to  passengers,  often  wantonly  biting  them,  and  raising  a 
yelling  noise  at  night,  that  sets  all  attempts  to  rest  at  defiance. 

It  did  not  always  happen  that  the  tiger  killed  the  pariah  put  into  his 
cage.  "  I  knew  an  instance,"  says  Captain  Williamson,  "  of  one  that 
was  destined  for  the  tiger's  daily  meal,  standing  on  the  defensive  in  a 
manner  that  completely  astonished  both  the  tiger  and  the  spectator.  Pie 
crept  into  a  corner,  and  whenever  the  tiger  approached  seized  him  by  the 
lip  or  the  neck,  making  him  roar  most  piteously.  The  tiger,  however, 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  19 

impelled  by  hunger, — for  all  supply  of  food  was  purposely  withheld, — would 
renew  the  attack.  The  result  was  ever  the  same.  At  length  the  tiger 
began  to  treat  the  dog  with  more  deference,  and  not  only  allowed  him  to 
partake  of  the  mess  of  rice  and  milk  furnished  daily  for  his  subsistence, 
but  even  refrained  from  any  attempt  to  disturb  him.  The  two  animals  at 
length  became  reconciled  to  each  other,  and  a  strong  attachment  was 
formed  between  them.  The  dog  was  then  allowed  ingress  and  egress 
through  the  aperture  ;  and,  considering  the  cage  as  his  home,  he  left  it  and 
returned  to  it  just  as  he  thought  proper.  When  the  tiger  died  he  moaned 
the  loss  of  his  companion  for  a  considerable  period." 

A  wild  variety  exists  in  Sumatra.  It  is  described  by  Cuvier  as  "  pos- 
sessing the  countenance  of  a  fox,  the  eyes  oblique,  the  ears  rounded  and 
hairy,  the  muzzle  of  a  foxy-brown  colour,  the  tail  bushy  and  pendulous, 
very  lively,  running  with  the  head  lifted  high,  and  the  ears  straight." 
This  animal  can  scarcely  be  rendered  tractable,  and  even  when  he  is 
apparently  tamed  can  rarely  be  depended  upon. 

As  we  proceed  through  the  Indian  Archipelago,  towards  Australasia, 
we  skirt  the  coast  of  Java.  Every  Javanese  of  rank  has  large  packs  of 
dogs  with  which  he  hunts  the  muntjak,  the  deer  of  that  country.  The 
dogs  are  led  in  strings  by  the  attendants  until  they  scent  the  prey  :  they 
are  then  unloosed,  while  the  sportsmen  follow,  but  not  at  the  speed  which 
would  distinguish  the  British 'sportsman.  The  animal  is  generally  found  at 
bay.  The  male  muntjak  usually  exhibits  considerable  courage,  and  pro- 
bably several  of  the  dogs  have  been  wounded  by  his  tusks.  As  soon  as 
they  come  up  every  gun  is  discharged,  and  the  animal  almost  immediately 
drops.  At  other  times  the  mounted  sportsmen  attack  them  with  a  spear  or 
sword.  Generally,  the  muntjak  does  not  go  off  like  the  stag  in  any  direct 
track,  but  takes  a  circular  course,  and  soon  returns  to  the  spot  whence  it 
was  started.  It  perhaps  makes  several  of  these  circles,  and  at  length 
entangles  itself  in  a  thicket,  where  it  is  secured. 

These  dogs  are  the  indigenous  breed  of  the  island,  the  body  lank,  the 
ears  erect,  ferocious  in  their  disposition,  and  with  very  little  attachment 
to  their  masters.  Such  is  the  account  given  of  them  by  Dr.  Horsfield. 

THE  DINGO,  AUSTRALASIAN,  OR  NEW  HOLLAND  DOG. 

The  newly  discovered  southern  continent  was,  and  some  of  it  still  con- 
tinues to  be,  overrun  by  the  native  wild  dogs.  Dampier  describes  them, 
at  the  close  of  the  last  century,  as  "  beasts  like  the  hungry  wolves,  lean 
like  so  many  skeletons,  and  being  nothing  but  skin  and  bone."  It  was 
not  until  the  publication  of  Governor  Phillip's  voyage  to  Botany  Bay, 
that  any  accurate  description  or  figure  of  this  dog  could  be  obtained. 
He  approaches  in  appearance  to  the  largest  kind  of  shepherd's  dog.  The 
head  is  elongated,  the  forehead  flat,  and  the  ears  short  and  erect,  or  with  a 
slight  direction  forwards.  The  body  is  thickly  covered  with  hair  of  two 
kinds — the  one  woolly  and  gray,  the  other  silky  and  of  a  deep  yellow  or 
fawn  colour.  The  limbs  are  muscular,  and,  were  it  not  for  the  suspicious 
yet  ferocious  glare  of  the  eye,  he  might  pass  for  a  handsome  dog.  The 
Australasian  dog,  according  to  M.  Desmarest,  resembles  in  form  and  in 
the  proportion  of  his  limbs  the  common  shepherd's  dog.  He  is  very 
active  and  courageous,  covered  in  some  parts  with  thick  hair  woolly  and 
gray,  in  other  parts  becoming  of  a  yellowish-red  colour,  and  under  the 
belly  having  a  whitish  hue.  When  he  is  running,  the  head  is  lifted  more 

c  2 


20 


FIRST  DIVISION  OF  THE 


than  usual  in  dogs,  and  the  tail  is  carried  horizontally.  He  seldom  barks. 
Mr.  Bennett  observes  that  "  dogs  in  a  state  of  nature  never  bark.  They 
simply  whine,  howl,  or  growl.  The  explosive  noise  of  the  bark  is  only 
found  among  those  that  are  domesticated."  Sonini  speaks  of  the  shep- 
herds' dogs  in  the  wilds  of  Egypt  as  not  having  this  faculty;  and 
Columbu/found  the  dogs  which  he  had  previously  carried  to  America, 
almost  to  have  lost  their  propensity  to  bark. 


THE    DINGO. 


He  does,  however,  occasionally  bark,  and  has  the  same  kind  of  snarling 
voice  which  the  larger  dogs  generally  have.  The  Australasian  dogs  that 
have  been  brought  to  Europe  have  usually  been  of  a  savage  and  untract- 
able  disposition. 

There  are  several  of  the  Australasian  dogs  in  the  gardens  of  the 
Zoological  Society  of  London.  One  of  them  has  been  an  inmate  of  that 
establishment  nine  years,  others  more  than  five  years ;  but  not  an  individual 
has  acquired  the  bark  of  the  other  dogs  by  which  they  are  surrounded. 
When  a  stranger  makes  his  appearance,  or  when  the  hour  of  feeding 
arrives,  the  howl  of  the  Australasian  is  the  first  sound  that  is  heard,  and 
it  is  louder  than  all  the  rest. 

If  some  of  them  have  thrown  off  a  portion  of  their  native  ferocity, 
others  retain  it  undiminished.  A  bitch  and  two  of  her  whelps,  nearly 
half  grown — a  male  and  female — had  inhabited  the  same  cage  from  the 
time  that'the  young  ones  were  born.  Some  cause  of  quarrel  occurred  on 
a  certain  night,  and  the  two  bitches  fell  upon  the  dog  and  perfectly 
destroyed  him.  There  was  not  a  limb  left  whole.  A  stronger  instance 
of  the  innate  ferocity  of  this  breed  could  scarcely  be  given.  Even  in  their 
native  country  all  attempts  perfectly  to  domesticate  them  have  failed ;  for 
they  never  lose  an  opportunity  to  devour  the  poultry  or  attack  the  sheep. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  21 

Every  domesticated  dog  coming  within  their  reach  was  immediately 
destroyed.  One  that  was  brought  to  England  broke  his  chain — scoured 
the  surrounding  country — and,  before  dawn,  had  destroyed  several  sheep  ; 
and  another  attacked,  and  would  have  destroyed,  an  ass,  if  he  had  not 
been  prevented. 

Mr.  Oxley,  Surveyor  General  of  New  South  Wales,  however,  gives  an 
interesting  account  of  the  mutual  attachment  between  two  of  the  native 
and  wild  New  Holland  dingos.  "  About  a  week  ago  we  killed  a  native 
dog,  and  threw  his  body  on  a  small  bush.  On  returning  past  the  same 
spot  to-day,  we  found  the  body  removed  three  or  four  yards  from  the  bush, 
and  the  female  in  a  dying  state  lying  close  beside  it :  she  had  apparently 
been  there  from  the  day  the  dog  was  killed.  Being  now  so  weakened  and 
emaciated  as  to  be  unable  to  move  on  our  approach,  it  was  deemed  a  mercy 
to  despatch  her." 

When  Van  Diemen  Land  began  to  be  colonized  by  Europeans,  the 
losses  sustained  by  the  settlers  by  the  ravages  of  the  wild  dogs  were 
almost  incredible.  The  districts  infested  by  these  animals  were  principally 
those  appropriated  to  sheep,  and  there  was  scarcely  a  flock  that  did  not 
suffer.  It  was  in  vain  to  double  the  number  of  shepherds,  to  watch  by 
night  and  by  day,  or  to  have  fires  at  every  quarter  of  the  fold ;  for  these 
animals  would  accomplish  their  object  by  stratagem  or  by  force.  One 
colony  lost  no  fewer  than  1200  sheep  and  lambs  in  three  months ;  another 
colony  lost  700. 

The  ravagers  were  either  the  native  wild  dogs  of  the  island,  or  those 
that  had  escaped  from  their  owners.  They  seemed  to  have  apportioned 
the  country  into  different  districts,  each  troop  having  its  allotted  range. 
At  length  the  evil  became  so  great  that  a  general  meeting  of  the  colonists 
was  convened.  The  concluding  sentences  of  the  speech  of  Lieutenant 
Hill  forcibly  express  the  extent  of  the  evil.  ((  The  country  is  free  from 
bush-rangers :  we  are  no  longer  surrounded  and  threatened  by  the 
natives.  We  have  only  one  enemy  left  in  the  field ;  but  that  enemy  strikes 
at  the  very  root  of  our  welfare,  and  through  him  the  stream  of  our  pros- 
perity is  tainted  at  its  very  source."  The  colonists  were  then  few,  but 
they  cordially  united  in  the  endeavour  to  extirpate  this  formidable 
enemy ;  and,  although  the  wild  dog  is  still  found  in  the  interior  of  the 
island,  he  is  comparatively  seldom  seen,  and  his  ravages  have  nearly 
ceased. 

THE  CANIS  ATJSTRALIS KARARAHE,  NEW  ZEALAND  DOG. 

A  tradition  exists  in  New  Zealand  of  this  dog  having  been  given  to  the 
natives  two  or  three  centuries  ago  by  a  number  of  divinities  who  made 
their  descent  on  these  shores,  probably  Juan  Fernandez  and  his  com- 
panions. The  sagacious  animal  has,  however,  dwindled  down  to  the 
lowest  rank  of  his  family,  but  ill  usage  has  not  altogether  destroyed  his 
worth.  In  New  Zealand  he  is  the  safeguard  of  every  village.  Should  the 
slightest  alarm  exist,  he  is  the  first  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  it,  and  many 
families  have  saved  themselves  by  flight,  or  have  taken  arms  in  self- 
defence  against  the  incursions  of  predatory  bands.  The  New  Zealanders 
are  therefore  kind  in^  their  treatment  of  the  dog,  except  that  they  occa- 
sionally destroy  him  for  his  hide. 

The  name  formerly  given  to  the  New  Zealand  dog  was  pero,  which  in 
some  measure  substantiates  the  supposition  of  Juan  Fernandez  having 


22  FIRST  DIVISION  OF  THE 

visited  the  country— perro,  in  the  Spanish  language,  being  the  name  of  a 
dog. 

We  will  now  turn  to  the  northern  parts  of  America.  The  races  of 
wild  dogs  are  there  considerably  limited,  both  in  number  and  the  districts 
which  they  occupy. 

In  the  elevated  sandy  country  north  of  the  source  of  the  Missouri, 
inhabited  by  the  "  Stone  "  and  the  "  Black  Foot "  Indians,  is  a  doubtful 
species  of  dogs — wolves  they  used  to  be  called — who  hunt  in  large  packs 
and  are  exceedingly  swift ;  whose  bark  is  similar  to  that  of  the  domestic 
dog,  but  who  burrow  in  the  ground,  and  eagerly  run  to  their  holes,  when 
the  gun  of  the  hunter  is  heard.  The  habit  of  selecting  large,  open, 
sandy  plains,  and  burrowing  there,  extends  to  the  greater  part  of  the 
American  wild  dogs. 

In  some  parts  of  North  America  whole  troops  of  horses  are  guarded  and 
kept  together  by  dogs.  If  any  of  the  troop  attempt  to  steal  away,  the 
dog  will  immediately  fly  after  the  horse,  head  him,  and  bring  him  back  to 
his  companions. 

The  wild  dogs  abound  in  many  parts  of  South  America.  In  some  of 
the  forests  on  the  banks  of  the  Oronoko  they  multiply  to  an  annoying 
degree.  The  Cayotte  of  Mexico,  described  by  some  as  a  wolf,  and 
bearing  no  slight  resemblance  to  that  animal,  belongs  to  the  South  Ame- 
rican wild  dogs,  as  do  also  the  Aguara  dogs  of  every  kind.  These  wan- 
derers of  the  woods  are,  however,  diminished  in  numbers  in  every  part  of 
that  continent,  and  are  replaced  by  other  kinds,  many  of  which  have  been 
imported  from  Europe  and  domesticated.  Many  of  the  Indian  tribes 
have  succeeded  in  reclaiming  the  dog  of  the  woods,  and  have  made  him  a 
useful  although  not  a  perfectly  attached  servant. 

The  dogs  of  the  Falkland  Islands,  and  the  Indian  North  American 
dogs  generally,  are  brown  or  gray-coloured  varieties  of  the  wild  dog ;  but 
they  are  nearly  exterminated. 

The  history  of  the 

WILD  DOG  OF  AFRICA 

will  occupy  little  space.  It  has  already  been  stated  that  in  Egypt  and  in 
Nubia  we  have  the  first  records  of  the  dog.  Many  superstitious  notions 
were  connected  with  him,  and  divine  honours  were  paid  to  him.  Those 
times  are  passed  away,  and  he  is  regarded  with  aversion  by  the  Moslem  of 
the  present  day.  He  is  an  outcast.  He  obtains  a  scanty  living  by  the 
offal  which  he  gathers  in  the  towns,  or  he  is  become  a  perfect  wild  dog, 
and  scours  the  country  for  his  prey.  His  modern  name  is  the  deab, 
He  is  of  considerable  size,  with  a  round  muzzle,  large  head,  small  erect 
ears,  and  long  and  hairy  tail,  spotted  with  black,  white,  and  yellow,  and 
having  a  fierce  wolfish  aspect.  These  dogs  are  not,  however,  numerous ; 
but  the  mischief  which  they  do  is  often  great,  whether  in  pairs  they  burrow 
in  the  earth,  or  associate  with  others  and  hunt  in  troops.a 

*  Poiret,  in  his  Travels  in  Barbary,  as-  of  his  own  life.    He  is  cruel  and  blood- 

serts  that  "the  dog  loses  in  the  East  a  thirsty,  his  look  is  savage,  and  his  ap- 

great  part  of  those  good  qualities  that  pearance  revolting  ;    carrion,  filth,  any- 

make  him  the  friend  of  man.     He  is  no  thing  is  good  enough  for  him  if  he  can 

longer    a    faithful    domesticated  animal,  but  appease  his  hunger.     They  seldom 

faithfully  attached  to  his  master,  and)  ever  bite  one  another,  but  they  unite  against  a 

ready  to  defend  him  even  at  the  expense  stranger  who  approaches  the  Arab  tents, 


VARIETIES    OF    THE    DOG.  23 

In  Nubia  is  a  smaller  dog  of  the  same  kind,  which  never  burrows.  It 
lives  on  small  animals  and  birds,  and  rarely  enters  any  of  the  towns.  A 
similar  dog,  according  to  Colonel  Hamilton  Smith,  inhabits  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  Cape,  and  particularly  the  Karroo  or  Wilderness.  It  is 
smaller  than  either  of  the  others,  and  lives  among  bushes  or  under  pro- 
minent rocks.  Others,  although  not  identified  with  the  jackal,  yet  asso- 
ciating with  him,  inhabit  the  uplands  of  Gambia  and  Senegal. 

On  the  Gold  Coast,  the  dog  is  used  and  prized  as  an  article  of  food. 
He  is  fattened  and  driven  to  market  as  the  European  drives  his  sheep  and 
hogs.  The  dog  is  even  more  valued  than  the  sheep  for  human  subsist- 
ence, and  is  deemed  the  greatest  luxury  that  can  be  placed  even  on  the 
royal  table. 

In  Loango,  or  Lower  Guinea,  is  a  town  from  which  the  African  wild 
dogs  derive  their  name — the  dingo.  They  hunt  in  large  packs.  They 
fearlessly  attack  even  the  elephant,  and  generally  destroy  him.  In  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  Cape,  the  country  is  nearly  cleared  of  wild  beasts  ; 
but  in  Cape  Town  there  are  a  great  number  of  lean  and  miserable  dogs, 
who  howl  about  the  streets  at  night,  quitting  their  dens  and  lurking- 
places,  in  quest  of  offal.  No  great  while  ago,  the  wolves  and  hysenas 
used  to  descend  and  dispute  the  spoil  with  the  dogs,  while  the  town  re- 
sounded with  their  hideous  howlings  all  the  night  long. 

This  will  be  a  proper  place  to  refer  to  the  numerous  accounts  that  are 
given  both  in  ancient  and  modern  times  of  the  immolation  of  dogs,  and  of 
their  being  used  for  food.  They  were  sacrificed  at  certain  periods  by  the 
Greeks  and  Romans  to  almost  all  their  deities,  and  particularly  to  Mars, 
Pluto,  and  Pan,  to  Minerva,  Proserpine,  and  Lucina,  and  also  to  the  moon, 
because  the  dog  by  his  barking  disturbed  all  charms  and  spells,  and 
frightened  away  all  spectres  and  apparitions.  The  Greeks  immolated 
many  dogs  in  honour  of  Hecate,  because  by  their  baying  the  phantoms  of 
the  lower  world  were  disturbed.  A  great  number  of  dogs  were  also 
destroyed  in  Samothrace  in  honour  of  the  same  goddess.  Dogs  were 
periodically  sacrificed  in  February,  and  also  in  April  and  in  May,  also  to 
the  goddess  Rubigo,  who  presided  over  the  corn,  and  the  Bona  Dea, 
whose  mysterious  rites  were  performed  on  Mount  Aventine.  The  dog 
Cerberus  was  supposed  to  be  watching  at  the  feet  of  Pluto,  and  a  dog  and 
a  youth  were  periodically  sacrificed  to  that  deity.  The  night  when  the 
Capitol  had  nearly  been  destroyed  was  annually  celebrated  by  the  cruel 
scourging  of  a  dog  in  the  principal  public  places,  even  to  the  death  of  the 
animal. 

Many  of  the  Greek  and  Roman  epicures  were  strangely  fond  of  the 
flesh  of  the  dog,  and  those  who  ought  to  have  known  much  better  encou- 
raged the  use  of  this  food.  Galen  speaks  of  it  in  the  strongest  terms  of 
praise.  Hippocrates  says  that  the  meat  of  old  dogs  is  of  a  warm  and  dry 
quality,  giving  strength  to  the  eater.  Ananias  the  poet  speaks  of  dog's 

and  would  tear  him  to  pieces  if  he  did  lively  and  honest  courtier.    He  is  here  a 

not  seek  his  safety  in  flight." — Vol.  i.  p.  gloomy  egotist,  and  cut  off  from  all  human 

353.  intercourse  without  being  the  less  a  slave. 

Denon,  when  in  the  city  of  Alexandria,  He  does  not  know  him  whose  house  he 

in  Egypt,  says,  "  I  have  no  longer  recog-  protects,  and  devours  his  corpse  without 

nised  the  dog,   that  friend  of  man,  the  repugnance." — Travels  in  Lower  Egypt, 

attached    and    faithful    companion  —  the  p.  32. 


24  FIRST    DIVISION    OF   THE 

flesh  served  up  with  that  of  the  hare  and  fox.  Virgil  recommends  that 
the  fatted  dog  should  be  served  up  with  whey  or  butter,  and  Dioscorides 
the  physician  says  that  they  should  be  fed  on  the  whey  that  remains  after 
the  making  of  cheese. 

Before  Christianity  was  established  among  the  Danes,  on  every  ninth 
year  at  the  winter  solstice,  a  monstrous  sacrifice  of  99  dogs  was  effected. 
In  Sweden  the  sacrifice  was  still  worse.  On  each  of  9  successive  days, 
99  dogs  were  destroyed.  This  sacrifice  of  the  dog,  however,  gave  way  to 
one  as  numerous  and  as  horrible.  On  every  9th  year,  99  human  victims 
were  immolated,  and  the  sons  of  the  reigning  tyrant  among  the  rest,  in 
order  that  the  life  of  the  monarch  might  be  prolonged.* 

On  the  other  hand,  the  dog  was  frequently  the  executioner  ;  and,  from  an 
early  period,  whether  in  the  course  of  war  or  the  mock  administration  of 
justice,  thousands  of  poor  wretches  were  torn  to  pieces  by  animals  trained 
to  that  horrible  purpose. 

Many  of  the  Indians  of  North  America,  and  almost  of  the  present  day, 
are  fond  of  the  flesh  of  the  dog. 

Captain  Carver,  in  his  Travels  in  North  America  in  1766,  1767,  and 
1768,  describes  the  admission  of  an  Indian  into  one  of  the  horrible  socie- 
ties of  that  country.  "  The  dishes  being  brought  near  to  me,"  says  he, 
"  I  perceived  that  they  consisted  of  dog's  flesh,  and  I  was  informed  that 
at  all  their  grand  feasts  they  never  made  use  of  any  other  food.  The 
new  candidate  provides  fat  dogs  for  the  festival,  if  they  can  be  procured 
at  any  price.  They  ate  the  flesh  ;  but  the  head  and  the  tongue  were 
left  sticking  on  a  pole  with  the  front  towards  the  east.  When  any 
noxious  disease  appeared  among  them,  a  dog  was  killed,  the  intestines 
were  wound  between  two  poles,  and  every  man  was  compelled  to  pass 
between  them." 

The  Nandowepia  Indians  also  eat  dog's  flesh  as  an  article  of  luxury, 
and  not  from  any  want  or  scarcity  of  other  animal  food  ;  for  they  have  the 
bear,  buffalo,  elk,  deer,  beaver,  and  racoon. 

Professor  Keating,  in  his  interesting  work  on  the  expedition  to  Peter's 
River,  states  that  he  and  a  party  of  American  officers  were  regaled  in  a 
large  pavilion  on  buffalo  meat,  and  tepsia,  a  vegetable  boiled  in  buffalo 
grease,  and  the  flesh  of  three  dogs  kept  for  the  occasion,  and  without  any 
salt.  They  partook  of  the  flesh  of  the  dogs  with  a  mixture  of  curiosity 
and  reluctance,  and  found  it  to  be  remarkably  fat,  sweet,  and  palatable, 
divested  of  any  strong  taste,  and  resembling  the  finest  Welsh  mutton,  but 
of  a  darker  colour.  So  strongly  rooted,  however,  are  the  prejudices  of 
education  that  few  of  them  could  be  induced  to  eat  much  of  it. 

The  feast  being  over,  great  care  was  taken  to  replace  the  bones  in  their 
proper  places  in  the  dish,  after  which  they  were  carefully  washed  and 
buried,  as  a  token  of  respect  to  the  animals  generally,  and  because  there 
was  the  belief  among  them  that  at  some  future  time  they  would  return 
again  to  life.  Well-fattened  puppies  are  frequently  sold  ;  and  an  invitation 
to  a  feast  of  dog's  meat  is  the  greatest  distinction  that  can  be  offered  to  a 
stranger  by  any  of  the  Indian  nations  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

As  a  counterpart  to  much  of  this,  the  ancient  Hyrcanians  may  be  men- 
tioned, who  lived  near  the  Caspian  Sea,  and  who  deemed  it  one  of  the 

*  Histoire  du  Chien,  p.  200.     The  Voyage  of  Dumont  d'Urville,  vol.  ii.  p.  474. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  25 

strongest  expressions  of  respect  to  leave  the  corpse  of  their  deceased  friends 
to  be  torn  and  devoured  by  dogs.  Every  man  was  provided  with  a  cer- 
tain number  of  these  animals,  as  a  living  tomb  for  himself  at  some  future 
period,  and  these  dogs  were  remarkable  for  their  fierceness. 

DOMESTICATED  DOGS  OF  THE  FIRST  DIVISION. 


THE    HARE    INDIAN    DOG. 

Some  of  the  readers  of  this  work  may  possibly  recollect  three  beautiful 
dogs  of  this  species  in  the  gardens  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London, 
which  afforded  a  perfect  illustration  of  the  elongated  head  of  the  dogs  be- 
longing to  Cuvier's  first  section.  Mr.  Bennett,  the  Secretary  of  the 
Society,  gave  an  interesting  account  of  them  in  1835,  derived  from  the 
observation  of  Sir  John  Franklin  and  Dr.  Richardson. 

The  elongation  and  sharpness  of  the  muzzle,  and  the  small  capacity  of 
the  skull,  first  attract  attention.  The  dog  was  doubtless  fitted  for  its 
situation,  where  its  duty  is  to  hunt  by  sight  after  the  moose  or  rein-deer, 
but  would  have  been  comparatively  worthless  if  he  was  to  be  guided  by 
the  scent.  Its  erect  ears,  widened  at  the  base  and  pointed  at  the  top,  gave 
it  an  appearance  of  vivacity  and  spirit.  Its  depth  of  chest,  and  tucked-up 
flank,  and  muscular  quarters,  marked  it  as  a  dog  of  speed,  while  its  light 
frame,  and  the  length  of  the  toes,  and  wideness  of  web  between  them, 
seem  to  depict  the  kind  of  surface  over  which  it  was  to  bound.  It  is 
not  designed  to  seize  and  to  hold  any  animal  of  considerable  bulk ;  it 
bounds  over  the  snow  without  sinking,  if  the  slightest  crust  is  formed  upon 
it,  and  eagerly  overtakes  and  keeps  at  bay  the  moose  or  the  rein-deer 
until  the  hunters  arrive.  This  animal  furnishes  a  beautiful  illustration  of 
adaptation  for  a  particular  purpose. 

The  hair  of  these  dogs  is  white,  with  patches  of  grayish-black  and 
brown.  They  are  known  only  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Mackenzie 
River  and  of  the  Great  Bear  Lake  in  North  America.  They  appear  to 
be  good-tempered  and  easily  manageable,  and  soon  become  familiar  even 


26 


FIUST  DIVISION  OF  THE 


with  strangers.  They  are  most  valuable  to  the  Indians,  who  live  almost 
entirely  on  the  produce  of  the  chace.  In  their  native  country  they 
never  bark,  but  utter  a  whine  and  howl  resembling  that  of  the  Esquimaux 
dog ;  yet  one  of  the  three,  who  was  born  a  few  days  after  its  parents 
arrived  at  the  gardens,  while  it  whined  and  howled  occasionally  with  its 
parents,  at  other  times  uttered  the  perfect  bark  of  its  companions  of  vari- 
ous breeds  around  it. 

THE  ALBANIAN  DOG 

can  be  traced  to  a  very  remote  period  of  history.  Some  of  the  old  authors 
speak  of  it  as  the  dog  which  in  the  times  of  ancient  mythology  Diana  pre- 
sented to  Procris.  Pliny  describes  in  enthusiastic  terms  the  combat  of 
one  of  them  with  a  lion,  and  afterwards  with  an  elephant.  A  dog  very 
much  resembling  the  ancient  stories  is  yet  found  in  Albania,  and  most  of 
the  districts  of  Greece.  He  is  almost  as  large  as  a  mastiff,  with  long  and 
silky  hair,  the  legs  being  shorter  and  stronger  than  those  of  the  grey- 
hound. He  is  gentle  and  tractable  with  those  whom  he  knows,  and  when 
there  is  no  point  of  duty  at  stake ;  but  no  bribe  can  seduce  him  from  his 
post  when  any  trust  is  committed  to  him. 

THE  GREAT  DANISH  DOG,  CALLED  ALSO  THE  DALMATIAN  OR 
SPOTTED  DOG. 


The  difference  between  these  two  breeds  consists  principally  in  the  size, 
the  Dalmatian  being  much  smaller  than  the  Danish.     The  body  is  gene- 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  27 

rally  white,  marked  with  numerous  small  round  black  or  reddish-brown 
spots.  The  Dalmatian  is  said  to  be  used  in  his  native  country  for  the 
chace,  to  be  easily  broken,  and  stanch  to  his  work.  He  has  never  been 
thus  employed  in  England,  but  is  chiefly  distinguished  by  his  fondness  for 
horses,  and  as  being  the  frequent  attendant  on  the  carriages  of  the 
wealthy.  To  that  its  office  seems  to  be  confined  ;  for  it  rarely  develops 
sufficient  sense  or  sagacity  to  be  useful  in  any  of  the  ordinary  offices  of 
the  dog. 

THE  FRENCH  M^TIN 

(Canis  laniarius).  There  is  considerable  difficulty  in  describing  this 
variety.  The  French  consider  it  as  the  progenitor  of  all  the  breeds  of 
dogs  that  resemble  and  yet  cannot  be  perfectly  classed  with  the  greyhound. 
It  should  rather  be  considered  as  a  species  in  which  are  included  a  variety 
of  dogs, — the  Albanian,  the  Danish,  the  Irish  greyhound,  and  almost  the 
pure  British  greyhound.  The  head  is  elongated  and  the  forehead  flat, 
the  ears  pendulous  towards  the  tips,  and  the  colour  of  a  yellowish  fawn. 
This  is  the  usual  sheep-dog  in  France,  in  which  country  he  is  also  em- 
ployed as  a  house-dog.  He  discharges  his  duty  most  faithfully ;  and,  not- 
withstanding his  flat  forehead,  shows  himself  to  possess  a  very  high  degree 
of  intelligence. 

THE   GREYHOUND. 

We  find  no  mention  of  this  dog  in  the  early  Grecian  records.  The 
pugnaces  and  the  sagaces  are  mentioned;  but  the  celeres — the  swift- 
footed — are  not  spoken  of  as  a  peculiar  breed.  The  Celtic  .nations,  the 
inhabitants  of  the  northern  continent  of  Europe  and  the  Western  Islands, 
were  then  scarcely  known,  and  the  swift-footed  dogs  were  peculiar  to 
those  tribes.  They  were  not,  however,  introduced  into  the  more  southern 
parts  of  Europe  until  after  the  dissolution  of  the  Roman  commonwealth. 

The  dog  is,  however,  mentioned  by  Ovid  ;  and  his  description  of  coursing 
the  hare  is  so  accurate  that  we  cannot  refrain  from  inserting  it.  We  se- 
lect a  translation  of  it  from  Golding. 

"  I  gat  me  to  the  knap 

Of  this  same  hill,  and  there  behelde  of  this  strange  course  the  hap, 
In  which  the  beaste  seemes  one  while  caught,  and  ere  a  man  would  thinke 
Doth  quickly  give  the  grewnda  the  slip,  and  from  his  biting  shrinke  ; 
And,  like  a  wilie  fox,  he  runs  not  forth  directly  out, 
Nor  makes  a  winlas  over  all  the  champion  fields  about, 
But,  doubling  and  indenting,  still  avoydes  his  enemie's  lips, 
An  turning  short,  as  swift  about  as  spinning  wheele  he  wips, 
To  disappoint  the  snatch.     The  grewnd,  pursuing  at  an  inch, 
Doth  coteb  him,  never  loosing.     Continually  he  snatches 
In  vaine,  but  nothing  in  his  mouth,  save  only  hair,  he  catches." 

There  is  another  sketch  by  the  same  poet : 

"  As  when  th'  impatient  greyhound,  slipped  from  far, 
Bounds  o'er  the  glade  to  course  the  tearful  hare, 
She  in  her  speed  does  all  her  safety  lay, 
And  he  with  double  speed  pursues  the  prey ; 
O'erruns  her  at  the  sitting  turn,  but  licks 
His  chaps  in  vain,  yet  blows  upon  the  flix ; 
She  seeks  the  shelter,  which  the  neighbouring  covert  gives, 
And,  gaining  it,  she  doubts  if  yet  she  lives."0 

Greyhound.        b  Overcast,  or  overrun.        c  Ovid,  Metamorph.,  lib.  i.  v,  353. 


28 


FIRST  DIVISION  OF  THE 


THE    GREYHOUND. 


The  English,  Scotch,  and  Irish  greyhounds  were  all  of  Celtic  deriva- 
tion, and  their  cultivation  and  character  corresponded  with  the  civilization 
of  the  different  Celtic  tribes.  The  dogs  that  were  exported  from  Britain 
to  Rome  were  probably  of  this  kind.  Mr.  Elaine  gives  an  account  of 
the  progress  of  these  dogs,  which  seems  to  be  evidently  founded  on  truth. 
"  Scotland,  a  northern  locality,  has  long  been  celebrated  for  its  grey- 
hounds, which  are  known  to  be  large  and  wiry-coated.  They  are  probably 
types  of  the  early  Celtic  greyhounds,  which,  yielding  to  the  influences  of 
a  colder  climate  than  that  they  came  from,  became  coated  with  a  thick 
and  wiry  hair.  In  Ireland,  as  being  milder  in  its  climate,  the  frame 
expanded  in  bulk,  and  the  coat,  although  not  altogether,  was  yet  less 
crisped  and  wiry.  In  both  localities,  there  being  at  that  time  boars, 
wolves,  and  even  bears,  powerful  dogs  were  required.  In  England  these 
wild  beasts  were  more  early  exterminated,  and  consequently  the  same 
kind  of  dog  was  not  retained,  but,  on  the  contrary,  was  by  culture  made 
finer  in  coat,  and  of  greater  beauty  in  form." 

Mr.  Richardson,  in  his  History  of  the  Greyhound,  gives  a  different  de- 
rivation of  the  name  of  this  dog.  He  says  that  the  greyhound  was 
of  Grecian  origin — canis  Grcecus, — that  Grcecus  was  not  unfrequently 
written  Grains,  and  thence  was  derived  the  term  greyhound.  This  de- 
rivation, however,  is  somewhat  too  far-fetched. 

Mention  occurs  of  the  greyhound  in  a  very  early  period  of  the  British 
history.  He  was  an  inmate  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  kennels  in  the  time  of 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  29 

Elfric  King  of  Mercia.  There  are  paintings  of  him  that  can  be  satisfac- 
torily traced  to  the  ninth  century.  In  the  time  of  Canute  he  was 
reckoned  first  in  degree  of  rank  among  the  canine  species,  and  no  one 
under  the  degree  of  a  gentleman,  liberates,  or  more  properly  perhaps  a 
freeholder,  was  allowed  by  the  forest  laws  to  keep  them.  Even  he  could 
not  keep  them  within  two  miles  of  a  royal  forest,  unless  two  of  the  toes 
were  cut  off,  and  for  every  mile  that  an  uncut  dog  was  found  within  this 
distance  a  fine  of  a  shilling  was  levied  on  the  owner.  The  nobleman  was 
rarely  seen  abroad  without  his  hawk  upon  his  fist,  and  his  greyhound  at 
his  side. 

Henry  II.  was  passionately  fond  of  them.  John  spared  no  expense  to 
procure  good  horses  and  swift  hounds,  and  appears  frequently  to  have 
received  greyhounds  in  lieu  of  money  on  the  issue  or  removal  of  grants. 
For  the  renewal  of  a  grant  in  the  year  1203  he  received  five  hundred 
marks,  ten  horses,  and  ten  leashes  of  greyhounds,  and  for  another,  in  1210, 
one  swift  running  horse  and  six  greyhounds. 

The  Isle  of  Dogs  now  devoted  to  purposes  of  commerce,  derived  its 
name  from  its  having  been,  at  this  period,  the  receptacle  of  the  grey- 
hounds and  spaniels  of  this  monarch.  It  was  selected  on  account  of  its 
contiguity  to  Waltham  and  the  other  royal  forests  where  coursing  was  a 
frequent  amusement.  For  the  same  purpose  he  often  took  up  his  abode 
at  Greenwich.* 

Blount's  Ancient  Tenures  abound  with  instances  of  the  high  repute  in 
which  this  dog  has  ever  been  held  in  Great  Britain.  The  holders  of  land 
in  the  manor  of  Setene  in  Kent  were  compelled,  as  the  condition  of  their 
tenure  to  Edward  I.  and  II.,  to  lend  their  greyhounds,  when  this  king 
went  into  Gascony,  "  so  long  as  a  pair  of  shoes  of  4d.  price  would  last." 
Edward  III.  was  partial  to  greyhounds ;  for  when  he  was  engaged  in  war 
with  France  he  took  with  him  sixty  couples  of  them,  besides  other  large 
hunting  dogs. 

Charles  I.  was  as  fond  of  the  greyhound  as  his  son  Charles  II.  was  of 
the  spaniel.  Sir  Philip  Warwick  thus  writes  of  that  unfortunate  monarch  : 
"  Methinks,  because  it  shows  his  dislike  of  a  common  court  vice,  it  is  not 
unworthy  the- relating  of  him,  that  one  evening,  his  dog  scratching  at  his 
door,  he  commanded  me  to  let  in  Gipsy  ;  whereupon  I  took  the  boldness 
to  say,  Sir,  I  perceive  you  love  a  greyhound  better  than  you  do  a  spaniel. 
Yes,  says  he,  for  they  equally  love  their  masters,  and  yet  do  not  flatter 
them  so  much." 

a  A  singular  story  is  told  of  Richard  II.,  duke,  who  knewe  not  the  grayhounde, 
and  one  of  these  dogs.  It  is  given  in  the  demanded  of  the  kynge  what  the  gray- 
language  of  Froissart.  "A  grayhounde  hounde  wolde  do?  'Cousin/  quod  the 
called  Mithe,  who  always  wayted  upon  kynge,  'it is  a  greate  goode  token  to  you, 
the  kynge,  and  woulde  knowe  no  man  and  an  evyl  signe  to  me.'  '  How  knowe 
els.  For  when  so  ever  the  kynge  did  you  that?'  quod  the  duke.  'I  knowe  it 
ryde,  he  that  kept  the  grayhounde  dyd  well,'  quod  the  kynge.  '  The  grayhounde 
lette  him  lose,  and  he  wolde  streyght  acknowledged  you  here  this  daye  as 
runne  to  the  kynge  and  faune  uppon  hym,  Kynge  of  England,  as  ye  shal  be,  and  I 
and  leape  with  his  fore  fete  uppon  the  shal  be  deposed;  the  grayhounde  hath 
kynge's  shoulders.  And,  as  the  kynge  this  knowledge  naturally:  therefore  take 
and  the  Erie  of  Derby  talked  togyder  in  hym  to  you,  he  wyll  followe  you  and 
the  courte,  the  grayhounde,  who  was  forsake  me.'  The  duke  understood  well 
wonte  to  leape  uppon  the  kynge,  left  the  those  words,  and  cheryshed  the  gray- 
kynge  and  came  to  the  Erie  of  Derby,  hounde,  who  wolde  never  after  followe 
Duke  of  Lancastre  ;  and  made  to  him  the  kynge  Richarde,  but  followed  the  Duke  of 
same  friendly  continuance  and  chere  as  Lancastre." 
he  was  wonte  to  do  to  the  kynge-  The 


30 


FIRST  DIVISION  OF  THE 


On  most  of  the  old  tombs  in  the  sculpture  of  which  the  dog  is  in- 
troduced, the  greyhound  is  represented  lying  at  the  feet  of  his  master  ; 
and  an  old  Welsh  proverb  says  that  a  gentleman  may  be  known  by  his 
hawk,  his  horse,  and  his  greyhound. 

The  following  poetical  record  of  the  fidelity,  prowess,  and  ill-fate  of 
G£lert,  the  favourite  greyhound  of  Llewellyn  Prince  of  Wales,  and  son- 
in-law  to  King  John,  will  be  read  with  interest : — 


The  spearman  heard  the  bugle  sound 
And  cheerly  smiled  the  morn, 

And  many  a  brach  and  many  a  hound 
Obeyed  Llewellyn's  horn. 

And  still  he  blew  a  louder  blast, 

And  gave  a  louder  cheer, 
"  Come,  Gelert !  why  art  thou  the  last 

Llewellyn's  horn  to  hear  ?" 

"  Oh,  where  does  faithful  Gelert  roam? 

The  flower  of  all  his  race  ! 
So  true,  so  brave ;  a  lamb  at  home, 

A  lion  in  the  chace  ?" 

'T  was  only  at  Llewellyn's  board 

The  faithful  Gelert  fed, 
He  watched,  he  served,  he  cheered  his 

lord, 
And  sentinel'd  his  bed. 

In  sooth  he  was  a  peerless  hound, 

The  gift  of  royal  John ; 
But  now  no  Gelert  could  be  found, 

And  all  the  chace  rode  on. 

And  now  as  over  rocks  and  dells 

The  gallant  chidings  rise, 
All  Snowdon's  craggy  chaos  yells 

With  many  mingled  cries. 

That  day  Llewellyn  little  loved 

The  chace  of  hart  or  hare ; 
And  scant  and  small  the  booty  proved, 

For  Gelert  was  not  there. 

Unpleased  Llewellyn  homeward  hied. 

When  near  the  portal  seat 
His  truant  Gelert  he  espied, 

Bounding  his  lord  to  greet. 

But  when  he  gained  the  castle-door 

Aghast  the  chieftain  stood ; 
The  hound  was  smeared  with  gouts  of 
gore— 

His  lips  and  fangs  ran  blood. 

Llewellyn  gazed  with  wild  surprise : 

Unused  such  looks  to  meet, 
His  favourite  check'd  his  joyful  guise 

And  crouched  and  licked  his  feet. 

Onward  in  haste  Llewellyn  pass'd, 

And  on  went  Gelert  too ; 
And  still  where'er  his  eyes  he  cast, 

Fresh  blood-gouts  shocked  his  view. 

O'erturned  his  infant's  bed  he  found, 
The  blood-stained  covert  rent ; 


And  all  around  the  walls  and  ground, 
With  recent  blood  besprent. 

He  called  his  child — no  voice  replied— 
He  searched  with  terror  wild : 

Blood !  blood !  he  found  on  every  side, 
But  nowhere  found  the  child. 

'  Hellhound !   by  thee  my  child's  de- 
voured r 

The  frantic  father  cried ; 
And  to  the  hilt  his  vengeful  sword 

He  plunged  in  Gelert's  side. 

His  suppliant,  as  to  earth  he  fell, 

No  pity  could  impart ; 
But  still  his  Gelert's  dying  yell 

Passed  heavy  o'er  his  heart. 

Aroused  by  Gelerf  s  dying  yell, 
Some  slumberer  wakened  nigh : 

What  words  the  parent's  joy  can  tell 
To  hear  his  infant  cry ! 

Concealed  beneath  a  mangled  heap 
His  hurried  search  had  missed, 

All  glowing  from  his  rosy  sleep, 
His  cherub  boy  he  kissed. 

Nor  scratch  had  he,  nor  harm,  nor  dread, 
But  the  same  couch  beneath 

Lay  a  great  wolf,  all  torn  and  dead, 
Tremendous  still  in  death. 

Ah,  what  was  then  Llewellyn's  pain ! 

For  now  the  truth  was  clear : 
The  gallant  hound  the  wolf  had  slain, 

To  save  Llewellyn's  heir. 

Vain,  vain  was  all  Llewellyn's  wo : 

"  Best  of  thy  kind,  adieu  ! 
The  frantic  deed  which  laid  thee  low, 

This  heart  shall  ever  rue." 

And  now  a  gallant  tomb  they  raise, 
With  costly  sculpture  decked ; 

And  marbles,  storied  with  his  praise, 
Poor  Gelert's  bones  protect. 

Here  never  could  the  spearman  pass, 

Or  forester,  unmoved ; 
Here  oft  the  tear-besprinkled  grass 

Llewllyn's  sorrow  proved. 

And  here  he  hung  his  horn  and  spear ; 

And  oft,  as  evening  fell, 
In  fancy's  piercing  sounds  would  hear 

Poor  Gelert's  dying  yell ! 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  31 

It  will  be  evident,  however,  from  the  story  of  the  noble  hound  whose 
history  is  just  related,  that  the  greyhounds  of  the  time  were  very  different 
from  those  which  are  used  at  the  present  day.  There  are  no  G£lerts  now 
to  combat  successfully  with  the  wolf,  if  these  ferocious  animals  were  yet 
to  be  met  with  in  our  forests.  The  greyhound  of  this  early  period  must 
have  resembled  the  Irish  wolf-dog  of  the  present  day,  a  larger,  stronger, 
fiercer  dog  than  we  are  accustomed  to  see. 

The  owner  of  Gelert  lived  in  the  time  of  John,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
thirteenth  century ;  but,  at  the  latter  part  of  the  fifteenth  century,  the 
following  singular  description  is  given  of  the  greyhound  of  that  period. 
It  is  extracted  from  a  very  curious  work  entitled  "  The  Treatise  per- 
teynynge  to  Hawkynge,  Huntynge,  &c.,  emprynted  at  Westmestre,  by 
Wynkyn  de  Werde,  1496." 

A  greyhounde  should  be  headed  lyke  a  snake, 

And  neckyd  lyke  a  drake, 

Fotyd  lyke  a  cat, 

Tayled  lyke  a  ratte, 

Syded  like  a  teme 

And  chyned  like  a  bream. 

The  fyrste  yere  he  must  lerne  to  fede, 

The  seconde  yere  to  feld  him  lede. 

The  thyrde  yere  he  is  felow  lyke. 

The  fourth  yere  there  is  none  syke. 

The  fifth  yere  he  is  good  ynough. 

The  syxth  yere  he  shall  hold  the  plough, 

The  seventh  yere  he  will  avaylle 

Grete  bytches  for  assayle. 

But  when  he  is  come  to  the  ninth  yere 

Have  him  then  to  the  tannere ; 

For  the  best  hounde  that  ever  bytch  had 

At  the  ninth  yere  is  full  bad. 

As  to  the  destiny  of  the  poor  animal  in  his  ninth  year,  we  differ  from 
the  author  ;  but  it  cannot  be  denied  that  few  dogs  retain  their  speed  be- 
yond the  eighth  or  ninth  year. 

There  can  scarcely  be  a  better  description  of  the  greyhound  of  the 
present  day ;  but  it  would  not  do  for  the  antagonist  of  the  wolf.  The 
breed  had  probably  begun  to  degenerate,  and  that  process  would  seem  to 
have  slowly  progressed.  Towards  the  close  of  the  last  century  Lord 
Orford,  a  nobleman  enthusiastically  devoted  to  coursing,  imagined,  and 
rightly,  that  the  greyhound  of  his  day  was  deficient  in  courage  and  per- 
severance. He  bethought  himself  how  this  could  best  be  rectified,  and  he 
adopted  a  plan  which  brought  upon  him  much  ridicule  at  the  time,  but 
ultimately  redounded  to  his  credit.  He  selected  a  bull-dog,  one  of  the 
smooth  rat-tailed  species,  and  he  crossed  one  of  his  greyhound  bitches 
with  him.  He  kept  the  female  whelps  and  crossed  them  with  some  of 
his  fleetest  dogs,  and  the  consequence  was,  that,  after  the  sixth  or  seventh 
generation,  there  was  not  a  vestige  left  of  the  form  of  the  bull-dog;  but 
his  courage  and  his  indomitable  perseverance  remained,  and,  having  once 
started  after  his  game,  he  did  not  relinquish  chase  until  he  fell  exhausted 
or  perhaps  died.  This  cross  is  now  almost  universally  adopted.  It  is 
one  of  the  secrets  in  the  breeding  of  the  greyhound. 

Of  the  stanchness  of  the  well-bred  greyhound,  the  following  is  a  satis- 
factory example.  A  hare  was  started  before  a  brace  of  greyhounds,  and 
ran  by  them  for  several  miles.  When  they  were  found,  both  the  dogs 
and  the  hare  lay  dead  within  a  few  yards  of  the  each  other.  A  labouring 


32  FIRST  DIVISION  OF  THE 

man  had  seen  them  turn  her  several  times;  but  it  dicTnot  appear  that 
either  of  them  had  caught  her,  for  there  was  no  wound  upon  her. 

A  favourite  bitch  of  this  breed  was  Czarina,  bred  by  Lord  Orford,  and 
purchased  at  his  decease  by  Colonel  Thornton  :  she  won  every  match  for 
which  she  started,  and  they  were  no  fewer  than  forty-seven.  Lord  Orford 
had  matched  her  for  a  stake  of  considerable  magnitude ;  but,  before  the 
appointed  day  arrived,  he  became  seriously  ill  and  was  confined  to  his 
chamber.  On  the  morning  of  the  course  he  eluded  the  watchfulness  of 
his  attendant,  saddled  his  favourite  piebald  pony,  and,  at  the  moment 
of  starting,  appeared  on  the  course.  No  one  had  power  to  restrain  him, 
and  all  entreaties  were  in  vain.  He  peremptorily  insisted  on  the  dogs 
being  started,  and  he  would  ride  after  them.  His  favourite  bitch  dis- 
played her  superiority  at  every  stroke  ;  she  won  the  stakes  :  but  at  the 
moment  of  highest  exultation  he  fell  from  his  pony,  and,  pitching  on  his 
head,  almost  immediately  expired.  With  all  his  eccentricities,  he  was  a 
kind,  benevolent,  and  honourable  man. 

In  the  thirteenth  year  of  her  age,  and  in  defiance  of  the  strange  verses 
just  now  quoted,  Czarina  began  to  breed,  and  two  of  her  progeny,  Claret 
and  young  Czarina,  challenged  the  whole  kingdom  and  won  their  matches. 
Major,  and  Snowball,  without  a  white  spot  about  him,  inherited  all  the 
excellence  of  their  dam.  The  former  was  rather  the  fleeter  of  the  two, 
but  the  stanchness  of  Snowball  nothing  could  exceed.  A  Scotch  grey- 
hound, who  had  beaten  every  opponent  in  his  own  country,  was  at  this  time 
brought  to  England,  and  challenged  every  dog  in  the  kingdom.  The 
challenge  was  accepted  by  Snowball,  who  beat  him  in  a  two-mile  course. 
Snowball  won  the  Malton  cup  on  four  successive  years,  was  never  beaten, 
and  some  of  his  blood  is  now  to  be  traced  in  almost  every  good  dog  in 
every  part  of  the  kingdom,  at  least  in  all  those  that  are  accustomed  to 
hunt  in  an  open  country.  The  last  match  run  by  Snowball  was  against 
Mr.  Plumber's  celebrated  greyhound  Speed  ;  and,  so  severely  contested 
was  it,  that  Speed  died  soon  afterwards.  A  son  of  the  old  dog,  called 
Young  Snowball,  who  almost  equalled  his  father,  was  sold  for  one 
hundred  guineas. 

The  speed  of  the  greyhound  has  been  said  to  be  equal  to  that  of  the 
fleetest  horse.  A  singular  circumstance,  which  occurred  at  Doncaster, 
proved  that  it  was  not  much  inferior.  A  mare  cantering  over  the  Don- 
caster  course,  her  competitor  having  been  withdrawn,  was  joined  by  a  grey- 
hound bitch  when  she  had  proceeded  about  a  mile.  She  seemed  determined 
to  race  with  the  mare,  which  the  jockey  humoured,  and  gradually  increased 
his  pace,  until  at  the  distance  they  put  themselves  at  their  full  speed.  The 
mare  beat  her  antagonist  only  by  a  head.  The  race-horse  is,  perhaps, 
generally  superior  to  the  greyhound  on  level  ground,  but  the  greyhound 
would  have  the  advantage  in  a  hilly  country. 

Lord  Rivers  succeeded  to  Major  Topham  and  Colonel  Thornton,  the 
owners  of  Major  and  Snowball,  as  the  leading  man  on  the  course.  His 
kennels  at  Strathfieldsaye  were  the  pride  of  the  neighbouring  country.  At 
first  he  bore  away  almost  every  prize,  but  breeding  too  much  in  and  in, 
and  for  speed  more  than  for  stoutness,  the  reputation  of  his  kennel  consi- 
derably declined  before  his  death. 

In  1797  a  brace  of  greyhounds  coursed  a  hare  over  the  edge  of  a  chalk- 
pit at  Offham,  in  Sussex.  The  hare  and  both  the  dogs  were  found  dead 
at  the  bottom  of  the  pit. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  33 

On  another  occasion  a  hare  was  chased  by  a  brace  of  greyhounds  :  she 
was  killed  at  the  distance  of  seven  miles  from  the  place  at  which  they 
started.  Both  of  the  dogs  were  so  exhausted,  that,  every  possible  assistance 
being  given,  they  were  with  difficulty  recovered. 

The  English  greyhound  hunts  by  sight  alone ;  not  because  he  is  alto- 
gether devoid  of  scent,  but  because  he  has  been  taught  to  depend  upon 
his  speed,  and  that  degree  of  speed  which  is  utterly  incompatible  with  the 
searching  out  of  the  scent.  It  is  like  a  pack  of  hounds,  running  breast 
high,  with  the  game  in  view.  They  are  then  running  by  sight,  and  not  by 
scent,  almost  doubling  their  usual  pace,  and  sometimes,  from  an  unex- 
pected turning  of  the  fox  or  hare,  thrown  out  for  a  little  while.  The  hound 
soon  recovers  the  track  by  his  exquisite  sense  of  smell.  The  English 
greyhound  is  never  taught  to  scent  his  game,  but,  on  the  contrary,  is  called 
off  the  moment  he  has  lost  sight  of  the  hare,  the  re-starting  of  which  is  left 
to  the  spaniel. 

The  English  greyhound  is  distinguished  by  its  peculiarly  long  and 
attenuated  head  and  face,  terminating  in  a  singular  sharpness  of  the  nose, 
and  length  of  the  muzzle  or  mouth.  There  are  two  results  from  this  : 
the  length  of  the  mouth  gives  a  longer  grasp  and  secures  the  prey,  but, 
as  the  nasal  cavities  and  the  cavity  of  the  skull  are  proportionately 
diminished,  there  is  not  so  much  room  for  the  expansion  of  the  membrane 
of  the  nose,  there  is  less  power  of  scent,  and  less  space  for  the  develop- 
ment of  the  brain. 

There  is  little  want  of  extraordinary  acute  hearing,  and  the  ears  of  the 
greyhound  are  small  compared  with  his  bulk.  Markham  recommends  the 
ears  to  be  close,  sharp,  and  drooping,  neither  protruding  by  their  bulk, 
nor  tiring  by  their  weight. 

The  power  of  the  eye  is  but  of  little  consequence,  for  the  game  is  rarely 
distant  from  the  dog,  and,  therefore,  easily  seen. 

The  neck  is  an  important  portion  of  the  frame.  It  should  be  long,  in 
order  to  correspond  with  the  length  of  the  legs,  and  thus  enable  the  dog 
to  seize  and  lift  the  game,  as  he  rapidly  pursues  his  course,  without 
throwing  any  undue  or  dangerous  weight  on  the  fore  extremities.  In  the 
act  of  seizing  the  hare  the  short-necked  dog  may  lose  the  centre  of  gravity 
and  fall. 

The  chest  is  a  very  important  part  of  the  greyhound,  as  well  as  of  every 
other  animal  of  speed.  It  must  be  capacious  :  this  capacity  must  be  ob- 
tained by  depth  rather  than  by  width,  in  order  that  the  shoulders  may  not 
be  thrown  so  far  apart  as  to  impede  progression. 

The  form  and  situation  of  the  shoulders  are  of  material  consequence ; 
for  on  them  depends  the  extent  of  the  action  which  the  animal  is  capable 
of  exerting.  The  shoulders  should  be  broad  and  deep,  and  obliquely  placed. 
They  are  so  in  the  horse,  and  the  action  of  the  dog  depends  entirely  on 
this  conformation. 

The  fore  legs  should  be  set  on  square  at  the  shoulder :  bulging  out  at 
the  elbow  not  only  gives  a  clumsy  appearance,  but  makes  the  dog  slow. 
The  legs  should  have  plenty  of  bone,  and  be  straight,  and  well  set  on  the 
feet,  and  the  toes  neither  turned  out  nor  in.  The  fore  arm,  or  that  por- 
tion of  the  leg  which  is  between  the  elbow  and  the  knee,  should  be  long, 
straight,  and  muscular.  These  are  circumstances  that  cannot  be  dispensed 
with.  The  length  of  the  fore  arm,  and  the  low  placing  of  the  pastern,  are 
of  essential  importance. 


34  FIRST  DIVISION  OF  THE 

With  regard  to  the  form  of  the  back  and  sides  of  the  greyhound,  Mr. 
Thacker  says,  with  much  truth,  that  "  It  is  the  strength  of  the  back  which 
is  brought  into  requisition,  in  particular,  in  running  over  hilly  ground. 
Here  may  be  said  to  rest  the  distinction  between  long  and  short  backs, 
supposing  both  to  be  good  and  strong.  The  more  lengthy  the  back,  and 
proportionately  strong,  the  more  the  greyhound  is  calculated  to  beat  the 
shorter-backed  dog  on  the  flat ;  but  on  hilly  ground  one  with  a  shorter 
back  will  have  the  advantage." a 

The  ribs  should  also  be  well  arched.  We  would  perhaps  avoid  him  with 
sides  too  decidedly  outswelling,  but  still  more  would  we  avoid  the  direct  flat- 
sided  dog. 

Without  really  good  haunches  and  muscular  thighs,  it  has  been  well 
remarked  that  the  odds  are  against  any  dog,  be  his  other  points  whatever 
they  may.  It  is  by  the  propulsatory  efforts  of  the  muscles  of  the  loins 
and  thighs  that  the  race  is  won.  The  thighs  should  be  large,  and  muscu- 
larly  indented  ;  the  hocks  broad,  and,  like  the  knee,  low  placed.  These 
are  very  important  points  ;  for,  as  Mr.  Elaine  has  properly  remarked,  "  on 
the  extent  of  the  angles  formed  between  these  several  portions  of  the  hinder 
limbs,  depends  the  extent  of  the  space  passed  over  at  each  bound." 

The  colour  of  the  greyhound  varies  exceedingly.  Some  are  perfectly 
black  and  glossy.  In  strength  and  endurance,  the  brindled  dog,  or  the 
brown  or  fawn-coloured  one,  is  the  best.  The  white  greyhound,  although  a 
beautiful  animal  and  swift,  is  not/perhaps,  quite  so  much  to  be  depended  on. 

The  greyhound  is  said  to  be  deficient  in  attachment  to  his  master  and  in 
general  intelligence.  There  is  some  truth  in  the  imputation  ;  but,  in  fact, 
the  greyhound  has,  far  less  than  even  the  hound,  the  opportunity  of  form- 
ing individual  attachments,  and  no  other  exercise  of  the  mind  is  required 
of  him  than  to  follow  the  game  which  starts  up  before  him,  and  to  catch 
it  if  he  can.  If,  however,  he  is  closely  watched  he  will  be  found  to  have 
all  the  intellect  that  his  situation  requires.11 

As  to  the  individual  attachment  which  the  greyhound  may  form,  he  has 
not  always  or  often  the  opportunity  to  acquire  or  to  exhibit  it.  The 
keeper  exercises  over  him  a  tyrannical  power,  and  the  owner  seldom  no- 
tices him  in  the  manner  which  excites  affection,  or  scarcely  recognition  ; 
but,  as  a  plea  for  the  seeming  want  of  fondness,  which,  compared  with 
other  breeds,  he  exhibits,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  quote  the  testimony  of  the 
younger  Xenophon,  who  had  made  the  greyhound  his  companion  and  his 
friend. 

*  Thacker  on  Sporting.  discovered  that  they  could  gnaw  the  cords 

b  The  writer  of  this  work  had  a  brace  asunder,  and  displace  the  rod,  and  fish  out 

of  greyhounds  as  arrant  thieves  as  ever  the  meat  as  before.     Small   chains  were 

lived.     They  would  now  and  then  steal  then  substituted  for  the   cords,   and   the 

into  the  cooking-room  belonging  to  the  meat  was  cooked   in  safety  for  nearly  a 

kennel,  lift  the  lid  from  the  boiler,  and,  if  week,  when  they  found  that,  by  rearing 

any  portion  of  the  joint  or  piece  of  meat  themselves  on  their  hind  legs,  and  apply- 

projected  above  the  water,  suddenly  seize  ing  their  united  strength  towards  the  top 

it,  and  before  there  was  time  for  them  to  of  the  boiler,  they  could  lift  it  out  of  its 

feel  much  of  its  heat,  contrive  to  whirl  bed  and  roll  it  along  the  floor,  and  so  get 

it  on  the  floor,  and  eat  it  at  their  leisure  at  the  broth,  although  the  meat  was  out 

as  it  got  cold.     In  order  to  prevent  this,  of  their  reach.     The  man  who  looked  after 

the  top  of  the  boiler  was  secured  by  an  them  expressed  himself  heartily  glad  when 

iron  rod  passing  under  its  handle,  and  they  were  gone  ;  for,  he  said  he  was  often 

tied  to  the  handle  of  the  boiler  on  each  afraid  to  go  into  the  kennel,  and  was  sure 

side  ;  but  not  many  days  passed  ere  they  they  were  devils,  and  not  dogs. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  35 

11  I  have  myself  bred  up,"  says  he,  "  a  swift,  hard-working,  courageous, 
sound-footed  dog.  He  is  most  gentle  and  kindly  affectioned,  and  never 
before  had  I  any  such  a  dog  for  myself,  or  my  friend,  or  my  fellow- 
sportsman.  When  he  is  not  actually  engaged  in  coursing  he  is  never 
away  from  me.  On  his  return  he  runs  before  me,  often  looking  back  to 
see  whether  I  had  turned  out  of  the  road,  and  as  soon  as  he  again  catches 
sight  of  me,  showing  symptoms  of  joy,  and  once  more  trotting  away  before 
me.  If  a  short  time  only  has  passed  since  he  has  seen  me  or  my  friend,  he 
jumps  up  repeatedly  by  way  of  salutation,  and  barks  with  joy  as  a  greeting 
to  us.  He  has  also  many  different  tones  of  speech,  and  such  as  I  never 
heard  from  any  other  dog.  Now  really  I  do  not  think  that  I  ought  to  be 
ashamed  to  chronicle  the  name  of  this  dog,  or  to  let  posterity  know  that 
Xenophon  the  Athenian  had  a  greyhound,  called  Horme,  possessed  of  the 
greatest  speed,  and  intelligence,  and  fidelity,  and  excellent  in  every  point." 

The  greyhound  has  within  the  last  fifty  years  assumed  a  somewhat  dif- 
ferent character  from  that  which  he  once  possessed.  He  is  distinguished 
by  a  beautiful  symmetry  of  form,  of  which  he  once  could  not  boast,  and 
he  has  even  superior  speed  to  that  which  he  formerly  exhibited.  He  is  no 
longer  used  to  struggle  with  the  deer,  but  he  contends  with  his  fellow 
over  a  shorter  and  speedier  course. 

The  rules  for  breeding  and  breaking-in  of  greyhounds  are  very  simple. 
The  utmost  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  qualities  of  the  parents ;  for  it 
is  as  certain  in  these  dogs  as  in  the  horse  that  all  depends  upon  the  breed- 
ing. The  bitch  should  be  healthy  and  of  good  size ;  the  dog  muscular, 
stanch,  and  speedy,  and  somewhat  larger  than  the  bitch.  Both  should 
have  arrived  at  their  full  vigour,  and  with  none  of  their  powers  beginning 
to  fail.  Those  as  much  as  possible  should  be  selected  whose  peculiar 
appearance  bids  fair  to  increase  the  good  qualities  and  diminish  the  bad 
ones  on  either  side.  The  best  blood  and  the  best  form  should  be  diligently 
sought.  Breeding  from  young  dogs  on  either  side  should,  generally 
speaking,  be  avoided.  With  regard  to  older  dogs,  whether  male  or 
female,  there  may  be  less  care.  Many  greyhounds,  both  male  and  female, 
eight,  nine,  and  ten  years  of  age,  have  been  the  progenitors  of  dogs  pos- 
sessing every  stanch  and  good  quality. 

On  no  consideration,  however,  should  the  bitch  be  put  to  the  dog  before 
she  is  two  years  old.  Little  can  be  done  to  regulate  the  period  of  restrum  ; 
but  the  most  valuable  breed  will  be  almost  invariably  that  which  is  pro- 
duced during  the  spring,  because  at  that  time  there  will  often  be  oppor- 
tunity for  that  systematic  exercise  on  which  the  growth  and  powers  of  the 
dog  so  materially  depend.  A  litter  of  puppies  in  the  beginning  or  even 
the  middle  of  winter  will  often  be  scarcely  worth  the  trouble  or  expense  of 
rearing. 

The  age  of  the  greyhound  is  now  taken  from  the  first  day  in  the  year ; 
but  the  conditions  of  entry  are  fixed  at  different  periods.  It  seems,  how- 
ever, to  be  agreed  that  no  dog  or  bitch  can  qualify  for  a  puppy  cup  after 
two  years  of  age. 

One  principle  to  be  ever  kept  in  mind  is  a  warm  and  comfortable 
situation,  and  a  plentiful  supply  of  nourishment  for  the  mother  and  for  the 
puppies  from  the  moment  of  their  birth.  The  dog  that  is  stinted  in  his 
early  growth  will  never  do  its  owner  credit.  The  bitch  should  be  abun- 
dantly supplied  with  milk,  and  the  young  ones  with  milk  and  bread,  and 
oatmeal,  and  small  portions  of  flesh  as  soon  as  they  are  disposed  to  eat  it ; 

D  2 


36  FIRST  DIVISION  OF  THE 

great  care,  however,  being  taken  that  they  are  not  over-gorged.  Regular 
and  proper  feeding,  with  occasional  exercise,  will  constitute  the  best  pre- 
paration for  the  actual  training.  If  a  foster-mother  be  required  for  the 
puppies,  it  should,  if  possible,  be  a  greyhound ;  for  it  is  not  at  all  impos- 
sible that  the  bad  qualities  of  the  nurse  may  to  a  greater  or  less  degree  be 
communicated  to  the  whelps.  Bringing  up  by  hand  is  far  preferable  to 
the  introduction  of  any  foster-mother.  A  glass  or  Indian-rubber  bottle 
may  be  used  for  a  little  while,  if  not  until  the  weaning.  Milk  at  first,  and 
afterwards  milk  and  sop  alternately,  may  be  used. 

There  is  a  difference  of  opinion  whether  the  whelp  should  be  kept  in  the 
kennel  and  subjected  to  its  regular  discipline,  or  placed  at  walk  in  some 
farm-house.  In  consequence  of  the  liberty  he  will  enjoy  at  the  latter,  his 
growth  will  probably  be  more  rapid  ;  but,  running  with  the  farmers'  dogs, 
and  probably  coursing  many  hares,  he  will  acquire,  to  a  certain  degree,  a 
habit  of  wildness.  It  is  useless  to  deny  this ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  nothing 
will  contribute  so  much  to  the  development  of  every  power  as  a  state  of 
almost  unlimited  freedom  when  the  dogs  are  young.  The  wildness  that 
will  be  exhibited  can  soon  be  afterwards  restrained  so  far  as  is  necessary, 
and  the  dog  who  has  been  permitted  to  exert  his  powers  when  young  will 
manifest  his  superiority  in  more  advanced  age,  and  in  nothing  more  than 
his  dexterity  at  the  turn. 

When  the  training  actually  commences,  it  should  be  preceded  by  a 
couple  of  doses  of  physic,  with  an  interval  of  five  or  six  days,  and,  pro- 
bably, a  moderate  bleeding  between  them ;  for,  if  the  dog  begins  to  work 
overloaded  with  flesh  and  fat,  he  will  suffer  so  severely  from  it  that  pos- 
sibly he  will  never  afterwards  prove  a  game  dog.  In  the  course  of  his 
training  he  should  be  allowed  every  advantage  and  experience  every  en- 
couragement. His  courses  should  be  twice  or  thrice  a-week,  according  to 
their  severity,  and  as  often  as  it  can  be  effected  he  should  be  rewarded  with 
some  mark  of  kindness. 

In  the  '  Sportsman'  for  April,  1840,  is  an  interesting  account  of  the 
chace  of  the  hare.  It  is  said  that,  in  general,  a  good  greyhound  will  reach 
a  hare  if  she  runs  straight.  He  pursues  her  eagerly,  and  the  moment  he 
is  about  to  strike  at  her  she  turns  short,  and  the  dog,  unable  to  stop  him- 
self, is  thrown  from  ten  to  twenty  yards  from  her.  These  jerking  turns 
soon  begin  to  tell  upon  a  dog,  and  an  old  well-practised  hare  will  seldom 
fail  to  make  her  escape.  When,  however,  pursued  by  a  couple  of  dogs, 
the  hare  has  a  more  difficult  game  to  play,  as  it  frequently  happens  that 
when  she  is  turned  by  the  leading  dog  she  has  great  difficulty  in  avoiding 
the  stroke  of  the  second. 

It  is  highly  interesting  to  witness  the  game  of  an  old  hare.  She  has 
generally  some  brake  or  thicket  in  view,  under  the  cover  of  which  she 
means  to  escape  from  her  pursuers.  On  moving  from  her  seat  she  makes 
directly  for  the  hiding-place,  but,  unable  to  reach  it,  has  recourse  to  turn- 
ing, and,  wrenched  by  one  or  the  other  of  her  pursuers,  she  seems  every 
moment  almost  in  the  jaws  of  one  of  them,  and  yet  in  a  most  dexterous 
manner  she  accomplishes  her  object.  A  greyhound,  when  he  perceives  a 
hare  about  to  enter  a  thicket,  is  sure  to  strike  at  her  if  within  any  reason- 
able distance.  The  hare  shortens  her  stride  as  she  approaches  the  thicket, 
and  at  the  critical  moment  she  makes  so  sudden,  dexterous,  and  effectual 
a  spring,  that  the  dogs  are  flung  to  a  considerable  distance,  and  she  has 
reached  the  cover  and  escaped. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  37 

The  isle  of  Cyprus  has  for  many  years  been  celebrated  for  its  breed  of 
the  greyhound.  On  grand  days,  or  when  the  governor  is  present,  the 
sport  is  conducted  in  a  curious  manner.  "When  the  hare  is  ready  to  be- 
come the  prey  of  its  enemies,  the  governor  rushes  forwards,  and,  throwing 
before  the  greyhounds  a  stick  which  he  carries,  they  all  instantaneously 
stop.  The  hare  now  runs  a  little  distance ;  but  one  of  the  swiftest  grey- 
hounds is  then  let  loose.  He  pursues  the  hare,  and,  having  come  up  with 
it,  carries  it  back,  and,  springing  on  the  neck  of  the  governor's  horse, 
places  it  before  him.  The  governor  delivers  it  to  one  of  his  officers,  who 
sends  it  to  the  park,  where  he  maintains  many  prisoners  of  the  same  kind ; 
for  he  will  not  destroy  the  animal  that  has  contributed  to  his  amusement.* 

The  following,  according  to  Mr.  Blaine,  an  ardent  courser  in  his  youth, 
is  the  best  mode  of  feeding  greyhounds  at  regular  work: — "The  dogs  had 
a  full  flesh  meal  every  afternoon  or  evening,  as  more  nutriment  is  derived 
from  night-feeding  than  by  day,  and  when  sleeping  than  when  waking.  In 
the  morning  they  were  let  out,  and  either  followed  the  keeper  about  the 
paddock,  or  the  groom  in  his  horse  exercise,  and  then  had  a  trifling  meal 
of  mixed  food,  as  a  quieting  portion,  until  the  evening  full  meal.  Such 
was  our  practice  on  the  days  when  no  coursing  was  contemplated,  and, 
with  the  exception  of  lowering  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  evening 
meal,  the  same  plan  was  pursued  throughout  the  year.  On  the  day  pre- 
vious to  coursing,  if  we  intended  anything  like  an  exhibition  of  our  dogs 
before  company  engaged  to  meet  us  on  the  marshes,  we  gave  a  plentiful 
meal  early  the  previous  day,  some  exercise  also  in  the  afternoon,  and  a 
light  supper  at  night,  of  meal  with  either  broth  or  milk,  with  a  man  on 
horseback  going  a  gentle  trot  of  six  or  seven  miles  an  hour."  b 

Mr.  Thacker  orders  the  greyhounds  out  on  the  fore  part  of  every  day ; 
but,  instead  of  being  loose  and  at  liberty,  they  would  be  much  better 
two  and  two  ;  then,  when  he  meets  with  a  proper  field  to  loose  them  in, 
to  give  them  a  good  gallop.  This  will  be  a  greater  novelty  than  if  they 
had  been  loose  on  the  road,  and  they  will  gallop  with  more  eagerness. 
Four  days  in  a  week  will  be  enough  for  this  exercise.  On  one  day  there 
should  be  a  gallop  of  one  or  two  miles,  or  even  a  course  for  each  brace  of 
dogs. 

The  young  dog  has  usually  an  older  and  more  experienced  one  to  start 
with  him.  That  which  is  of  most  importance  is,  that  his  leader  should  be 
a  thoroughly  stout  and  high-mettled  dog.  If  he  shrinks  or  shies  at  any 
impediment,  however  formidable,  the  young  one  will  be  sure  to  imitate 
him,  and  to  become  an  uncertain  dog,  if  not  a  rank  coward.  Early  in 
November  is  the  time  when  these  initiatory  trials  are  to  be  made.  It  is  of 
consequence  that  the  young  one  should  witness  a  death  as  soon  as  possible. 
Some  imagine  that  two  old  dogs  should  accompany  the  young  one  at  its 
first  commencement.  After  the  death  of  the  leveret,  the  young  dog  must 
be  coaxed  and  fondled,  but  never  suffered  to  taste  the  blood. 

In  kennels  in  which  the  training  is  regularly  conducted,  the  dog  should 
be  brushed  all  over  twice  every  day.  Few  things  contribute  so  much  to 
health  as  general  cleanliness,  and  friction  applied  to  the  skin.  Warmth  is 
as  necessary  for  greyhounds  as  for  horses,  and  should  not  be  forgotten  in 
cold  weather.  Body-clothing  is  a 'custom  of  considerable  antiquity,  and 
should  not  be  abandoned.  The  breeder  of  greyhounds  for  the  purpose  of 

•  Scotf  s  Sportsman's  Repository,  p.  97.  b  Elaine's  Encyclopedia  of  Sporting. 


38  FIRST  DIVISION  OF  THE 

coursing  must  reckon  upon  incurring  considerable  expense ;  but,  if  he 
loves  the  sport,  he  will  be  amply  remunerated  by  the  speed  and  stoutness 
of  his  dogs. 

A  question  has  arisen  whether,  on  the  morning  of  the  coursing,  any 
stimulant  should  be  given  to  the  dog.  The  author  of  this  work  would 
unhesitatingly  approve  of  this  practice.  He  has  had  abundant  experience 
of  the  good  effect  of  it ;  but  the  stimulus  must  be  that  which,  while  it  pro- 
duces the  desired  effect,  leaves  no  exhaustion  behind.  a 

THE  SCOTCH  GREYHOUND 

has  the  same  sharpness  of  muzzle,  length  of  head,  lightness  of  ear,  and 
depth  of  chest,  as  the  English  dog ;  but  the  general  frame  is  stronger  and 
more  muscular,  the  hind  quarters  more  prominent,  there  is  evident  increase 
of  size  and  roughness  of  coat,  and  there  is  also  some  diminution  of  speed. 
If  it  were  not  for  these  points,  these  dogs  might  occasionally  be  taken  for 
each  other.  In  coursing  the  hare,  no  north-country  dog  will  stand  against 
the  lighter  southern,  although  the  southern  would  be  unequal  to  the 
labour  often  required  from  the  Highlander. 

The  Scotch  greyhound  is  said — perhaps  wrongly — to  be  oftenest  used 
by  those  who  look  more  to  the  quantity  of  game  than  to  the  fairness  and 
openness  of  the  sport,  and  in  some  parts  of  the  country  this  dog  is  not  per- 
mitted to  be  entered  for  a  sweepstakes,  because,  instead  of  depending  on 
his  speed  alone,  as  does  the  English  greyhound,  he  has  recourse  to  occa- 
sional artifices  in  order  to  intercept  the  hare.  In  sporting  language  he 
runs  sly,  and,  therefore,  is  sometimes  excluded. 

THE  HIGHLAND  GREYHOUND,  OR  DEER-HOUND, 

is  a  larger,  stronger,  and  fiercer  dog,  and  may  be  readily  distinguished  from 
the  Lowland  Scotch  greyhound  by  its  pendulous,  and,  generally,  darker 
ears,  and  by  the  length  of  hair  which  almost  covers  his  face.  Many 
accounts  have  been  given  of  the  perfection  of  its  scent,  and  it  is  said  to 
have  followed  a  wounded  deer  during  two  successive  days.  He  is  usually 
two  inches  taller  than  the  Scotch  greyhound.  The  head  is  carried  par- 
ticularly high,  and  gives  to  the  animal  a  noble  appearance.  His  limbs  are 
exceedingly  muscular,  his  back  beautifully  arched.  The  tail  is  long  and 
curved,  but  assumes  the  form  of  an  almost  straight  line  when  he  is  much 
excited.  The  only  fault  which  these  dogs  have  is  their  occasional  ill- 
temper,  or  even  ferocity ;  but  this  does  not  extend  to  the  owner  and  his 
family. 

It  appears  singular  that  the  English  greyhound  exhibits  so  little  power 
of  scent ;  but  this  is  simply  because  he  has  never  been  taught  to  use  it,  or 
has  been  cruelly  corrected  when  he  has  attempted  to  exercise  it. 

Holinshed  relates  the  mischief  that  followed  the  stealing  of  one  of  these 
dogs : — "  Divers  of  the  young  Pictesh  nobilitye  repaired  unto  Craithlint, 
King  of  the  Scots,  for  to  hunt  and  make  merie  with  him ;  but,  when  they 
should  depart  homewards,  perceiving  that  the  Scotish  dogs  did  far  excel 
theirs,  both  in  fairnesse,  swiftnesse,  and  hardinesse,  and  also  in  long  stand- 
ing up  and  holding  out,  they  got  diverse  both  dogs  and  bitches  of  the  best 

a  For  a  set  of  laws  for  Coursing  Matches,  see  Appendix. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  39 

kind  for  breed,  to  be  given  them  by  the  Scotish  Lords ;  and  yet  not  so 
contented,  they  stole  one  belonging  to  the  King  from  his  keeper,  being 
more  esteemed  of  him  than  all  the  others  which  he  had  about  him.  The 
maister  of  the  leash,  being  informed  hereof,  pursued  after  them  that  had 
stolen  the  dog,  thinking,  indeed,  to  have  taken  him  from  them ;  but  they 
not  being  to  part  with  him  fell  at  altercation,  and  at  the  end  chanced  to 
strike  the  maister  of  the  leash  through  with  their  horse  spears,  so  that  he 
did  die  presently.  Whereupon  noise  and  crie  being  raised  in  the  country 
by  his  servantes,  divers  of  the  Scots,  as  they  were  going  home  from  hunt- 
ing, returned,  and  falling  upon  the  Picts  to  revenge  the  death  of  their 
fellow,  there  ensued  a  shrewed  bickering  betwixt  them;  so  that  of  the 
Scots  there  died  three  score  gentlemen,  besides  a  great  number  of  the 
commons,  not  one  of  them  understanding  what  the  matter  meant.  Of  the 
Picts  there  were  about  100  slaine." 

Mr.  H.  D.  Richardson  describes  a  cross  between  the  greyhound  and 
British  bloodhound  : — "  It  is  a  tall  muscular  raw-boned  dog,  the  ears  far 
larger,  and  more  pendulous,  than  those  of  the  greyhound  or  deer-hound. 
The  colour  is  generally  black,  or  black  and  tan ;  his  muzzle  and  the  tips 
of  the  ears  usually  dark.  He  is  exceedingly  swift  and  fierce ;  can  pull 
down  a  stag  single-handed  ;  runs  chiefly  by  sight,  but  will  also  occasion- 
ally take  up  the  scent.  In  point  of  scent,  however,  he  is  inferior  to  the 
true  deer-hound.  This  dog  cannot  take  a  turn  readily,  but  often  fails  at 
the  double."* 

THE  IRISH  GREYHOUND. 

This  dog  differs  from  the  Scotch,  in  having  shorter  and  finer  hair,  of  a 
pale  fawn  colour,  and  pendent  ears.  It  is,  compared  with  the  Scotch  dog, 
gentle  and  harmless,  perhaps  indolent,  until  roused.  It  is  a  larger  dog 
than  the  Scottish  dog,  some  of  them  being  full  four  feet  in  length,  and 
proportionately  muscular.  On  this  account,  and  also  on  account  of  their 
determined  spirit  when  roused,  they  were  carefully  preserved  by  some 
Irish  gentlemen.  They  were  formerly  used  in  hunting  the  wolf  when 
that  animal  infested  the  forests  of  Ireland.  Mr.  Bell  says  that  the  last 
person  who  kept  the  pure  breed  was  Lord  Altamont,  who  in  1780  had 
eight  of  them.b 

THE  GASEHOUND, 

the  agascBus  of  former  times,  was  probably  allied  to,  or  connected  with, 
the  Irish  greyhound.  It  hunted  entirely  by  sight,  and,  if  its  prey  was  lost 
for  a  time,  it  could  recover  it  by  a  singular  distinguishing  faculty.  Should 
the  deer  rejoin  the  herd,  the  dog  would  unerringly  select  him  again  from 
all  his  companions : 

"  Seest  thou  the  gasehound  how  with  glance  severe 
From  the  close  herd  he  marks  the  destined  deer?"  c 

There  is  no  dog  possessed  of  this  quality  at  present  known  in  Europe  ; 
but  the  translator  of  Arrian  thinks  that  it  might  be  produced  between  the 
Irish  greyhound  and  the  bloodhound. 

a  Sportsman,  vol.  xi.p.  314.  b  Bell's  British  Quadrupeds,  p.  241. 

c  Tickell's  Miscellanies. 


40  FIRST  DIVISION  OF  THE 


THE  IRISH   WOLF-DOG. 

This  animal  is  nearly  extinct,  or  only  to  be  met  with  at  the  mansions  of 
one  or  two  persons  by  whom  he  is  kept  more  for  show  than  use,  the  wild 
animals  which  he  seemed  powerful  enough  to  conquer  having  long  dis- 
appeared from  the  kingdom.  The  beauty  of  his  appearance  and  the  an- 
tiquity of  his  race  are  his  only  claims,  as  he  disdains  the  chace  of  stag,  fox, 
or  hare,  although  he  is  ever  ready  to  protect  the  person  and  the  property 
of  his  master.  His  size  is  various,  some  having  attained  the  height  of 
four  feet,  and  Dr.  Goldsmith  states  that  he  saw  one  as  large  as  a  yearling 
calf.  He  is  shaped  like  a  greyhound,  but  stouter  ;  and  the  only  dog  which 
the  writer  from  whom  this  account  is  taken  ever  saw  approaching  to  his 
graceful  figure,  combining  beauty  with  strength,  is  the  large  Spanish  wolf- 
dog  :  concerning  which  he  adds,  that,  showing  one  of  these  Spanish  dogs 
to  some  friends,  he  leaped  through  a  window  into  a  cow-house,  where  a 
valuable  calf  was  lying,  and  seizing  the  terrified  animal,  killed  it  in  an 
instant ;  some  sheep  having  in  the  same  way  disappeared,  he  was  given 
away.  The  same  writer  says  that  his  grandfather  had  an  Irish  wolf-dog 
which  saved  his  mother's  life  from  a  wolf  as  she  was  paying  a  visit  at- 
tended by  this  faithful  follower.  He  rushed  on  his  foe  just  when  he  was 
about  to  make  his  spring,  and  after  a  fierce  struggle  laid  him  dead  at  his 
mistress's  feet.  His  name  was  Bran.a 


THE  RUSSIAN  GREYHOUND 

is  principally  distinguished  by  its  dark-brown  or  iron-grey  colour — its 
short  semi-erect  ears — its  thin  lanky  body — long  but  muscular  legs — soft 
thick  hair,  and  the  hair  of  its  tail  forming  a  spiral  twist,  or  fan,  (thence 
called  the  fan-tailed  dog,)  and  as  he  runs  haying  a  very  pleasing  appear- 
ance. He  hunts  by  scent  as  well  as  by  sight,  and,  therefore,  small  packs 
of  this  kind  are  sometimes  kept,  against  which  the  wolf,  or  even  the  bear, 
would  stand  little  chance.  He  is  principally  used  for  the  chace  of  the  deer 
or  the  wolf,  but  occasionally  follows  the  hare.  The  deer  is  the  principal 
object  of  pursuit,  and  for  this  he  is  far  better  adapted  than  to  contend  with 
the  ferocious  wolf.  His  principal  faults  are  want  of  activity  and  dexterity. 
He  is  met  with  in  most  parts  of  Russia,  where  his  breed  is  carefully  pre- 
served by  the  nobility,  with  whom  coursing  is  a  favourite  diversion. 
Some  dogs  of  this  breed  were  not  long  ago  introduced  into  Ireland. 


THE  GRECIAN   GREYHOUND. 

The  author  is  glad  that  he  is  enabled  to  present  his  readers  with  the 
portrait  of  one  now  in  the  menagerie  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London. 
It  is  the  dog  whose  image  is  occasionally  sculptured  on  the  friezes  of  some 
of  the  ancient  Grecian  temples,  and  was  doubtless  a  faithful  portrait  of 
one  of  the  dogs  which  Xenophon  the  Athenian  valued,  and  was  the  com- 
panion of  the  heroes  of  Greece  in  her  ancient  glory. 

•  Sporting  Mag.  1837,  p.  156. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG. 


41 


"- : 

K 


THE    GRECIAN    GREYHOUND. 


The  principal  difference  between  the  Grecian  and  the  English  greyhound 
is,  that  the  former  is  not  so  large,  the  muzzle  is  not  so  pointed,  and  the 
limbs  are  not  so  finely  framed. 


THE  TURKISH  GREYHOUND 

is  a  small-sized  hairless  dog,  or  with  only  a  few  hairs  on  his  tail.  He  is 
never  used  in  the  field,  and  bred  only  as  a  spoiled  pet,  yet  not  always 
spoiled,  for  anecdotes  are  related  of  his  inviolable  attachment  to  his  owner. 
One  of  them  belonged  to  a  Turkish  Pacha  who  was  destroyed  by  the  bow- 
string. He  would  not  forsake  the  corpse,  but  laid  himself  down  by  the 
body  of  his  murdered  master,  and  presently  expired. 

THE  PERSIAN  GREYHOUND 

is  a  beautiful  animal.  He  is  more  delicately  framed  than  the  English 
breed ;  the  ears  are  also  more  pendulous,  and  feathered  almost  as  much 
as  those  of  a  King  Charles's  spaniel.  Notwithstanding,  however,  his 
apparent  slenderness  and  delicacy,  he  yields  not  in  courage,  and  scarcely 
in  strength,  to  the  British  dog.  There  are  few  kennels  in  which  he  is 
found  in  which  he  is  not  the  master. 

In  his  native  country,  he  is  not  only  used  for  hunting  the  hare,  but  the 
antelope,  the  wild  ass,  and  even  the  boar.  The  antelope  is  speedier  than 
the  greyhound :  therefore  the  hawk  is  given  to  him  as  an  ally.  The 
antelope  is  no  sooner  started  than  the  hawk  is  cast  off,  who,  fluttering 


42  FIRST  DIVISION  OF  THE 

before  the  head  of  the  deer,  and,  sometimes  darting  his  talons  into  his 
head,  disconcerts  him,  and  enables  the  greyhound  speedily  to  overtake  and 
master  him.  The  chace,  however,  in  which  the  Persians  chiefly  delight, 
and  for  which  these  greyhounds  are  mostly  valued,  is  that  of  the  ghoo- 
khan,  or  wild  ass.  This  animal  inhabits  the  mountainous  districts  of 
Persia.  He  is  swift,  ferocious,  and  of  great  endurance,  which,  together 
with  the  nature  of  the  ground,  renders  this  sport  exceedingly  dangerous. 
The  hunter  scarcely  gives  the  animal  a  fair  chance,  for  relays  of  grey- 
hounds are  placed  at  various  distances  in  the  surrounding  country ;  so 
that,  when  those  by  which  the  animal  is  first  started  are  tired,  there 
are  others  to  continue  the  chace.  Such,  however,  is  the  speed  and  en- 
durance of  the  ghoo-khan  that  it  is  seldom  fairly  run  down  by  the  grey- 
hounds, its  death  being  usually  achieved  by  the  rifle  of  some  horseman. 
The  Persians  evince  great  skill  and  courage  in  this  dangerous  sport,  gal- 
loping at  full  speed,  rifle  in  hand,  up  and  down  the  most  precipitous  hills, 
and  across  ravines  and  mountain  streams,  that  might  well  daunt  the  boldest 
rider.a 

The  Persian  greyhound,  carried  to  Hindoostan,  is  not  always  to  be  de- 
pended upon,  but,  it  is  said,  is  apt  to  console  itself  by  hunting  its  own 
master,  or  any  one  else,  when  the  game  proves  too  fleet  or  escapes  into  the 
cover. 

THE  ITALIAN  GREYHOUND 

possesses  all  the  symmetry  of  the  English  or  Persian  one,  on  a  small  scale. 
So  far  as  beauty  can  recommend  it,  and,  generally  speaking,  good-nature, 
it  is  deservedly  a  favourite  in  the  drawing-room ;  but,  like  the  large  grey- 
hound, it  is  inferior  in  intelligence.  It  has  no  strong  individual  attach- 
ment, but  changes  it  with  singular  facility.  It  is  not,  however,  seen  to 
advantage  in  its  petted  and  degraded  state,  but  has  occasionally  proved  a 
not  unsuccessful  courser  of  the  rabbit  and  the  hare,  and  exhibited  no  small 
share  of  speed  and  perseverance.  In  a  country,  however,  the  greater  part 
of  which  is  infested  with  wolves,  it  cannot  be  of  much  service,  but  ex- 
posed to  unnecessary  danger.  It  is  bred  along  the  coasts  of  Italy,  prin- 
cipally for  the  purpose  of  sale  to  foreigners. 

In  order  to  acquire  more  perfect  beauty  of  form,  and  more  activity  also, 
the  English  greyhound  has  received  one  cross  from  the  Italian,  and  with 
decided  advantage.  The  speed  and  the  beauty  have  been  evidently  in- 
creased, and  the  courage  and  stoutness  have  not  been  diminished. 

It  has  been  said  that  Frederick  the  Great  of  Prussia  was  very  fond  of 
a  small  Italian  greyhound,  and  used  to  carry  it  about  with  him  under  his 
cloak.  During  the  seven  years'  war,  he  was  pursued  by  a  party  of  Aus- 
trian dragoons,  and  compelled  to  take  shelter,  with^his  favourite,  under 
the  dry  arch  of  a  bridge.  Had  the  little  animal,  that  was  naturally  ill- 
tempered  and  noisy,  once  barked,  the  monarch  would  have  been  taken 
prisoner,  and  the  fate  of  the  campaign  and  of  Prussia  decided  ;  but  it  lay 
perfectly  still,  and  clung  close  to  its  master,  as  if  conscious  of  their  mu- 
tual danger.  When  it  died,  it  was  buried  in  the  gardens  of  the  palace  at 
Berlin,  and  a  suitable  inscription  placed  over  its  grave. 

»  New  Sports.  Mag.  xiii.  124. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG. 


43 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  VARIETIES  O*  THE  DOG. SECOND  DIVISION. 

The  head  moderately  elongated,  the  parietals  not  approaching  from 
their  insertion,  but  rather  diverging,  so  as  to  enlarge  the  cerebral  cavities 
and  the  frontal  sinuses ;  consequently  giving  to  these  dogs  greater  power  of 
scent  and  intelligence.  They  constitute  the  most  pleasing  and  valuable 
division  of  the  Dog. 


BLENHEIMS    AND    COCKERS. 

The  Spaniel  is  evidently  the  parent  of  the  Newfoundland  dog  and  the 
setter ;  while  the  retriever,  the  poodle,  the  Bernardine,  the  Esquimaux, 
the  Siberian,  and  the  Greenland  dogs,  the  shepherd  and  drover's  dog,  and 
every  variety  distinguished  for  intelligence  and  fidelity,  have  more  or  less 
of  his  blood  in  them. 

THE  SPANIEL 

is  probably  of  Spanish  origin,  and  thence  his  name.  The  ears  are  large 
and  pendent,  the  tail  elevated,  the  fur  of  a  different  length  in  different 
parts  of  the  body,  but  longest  about  the  ears,  under  the  neck,  behind  the 
thighs  and  on  the  tail,  varying  in  colour,  but  most  commonly  white  with 
brown  or  black  patches. 

There  are  many  varieties  of  the  spaniel.  The  smallest  of  the  land 
spaniels  is 


44  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 


THE  COCKER. 

It  is  chiefly  used  in  flushing  woodcocks  and  pheasants  in  thickets  and 
copses  into  which  the  setter,  and  even  the  springer,  can  scarcely  enter. 

"  But,  if  the  shady  woods  my  cares  enaploy, 
In  quest  of  feathered  game  my  spaniels  beat, 
Puzzling  the  entangled  copse,  and  from  the  brake 
Push  forth  the  whirring  pheasant/' 

The  cocker  is  here  very  useful,  although  he  is  occasionally  an  exceed- 
ingly impatient  animal.  He  is  apt  to  whimper  and  babble  as  soon  as  he 
comes  upon  the  scent  of  game,  and  often  raises  the  bird  before  the  sports- 
man is  within  reach :  but  when  he  is  sufficiently  broken  in  not  to  give 
tongue  until  the  game  rises  he  is  exceedingly  valuable.  There  can 
scarcely  be  a  prettier  object  than  this  little  creature,  full  of  activity,  and 
bustling  in  every  direction,  with  his  tail  erect,  and,  the  moment  he  scents 
the  bird,  expressing  his  delight  by  the  quivering  of  every  limb,  and  the  low 
eager  whimpering  which  the  best  breaking  cannot  always  subdue.  Presently 
the  bird  springs,  and  then  he  shrieks  out  his  ecstasy,  startling  even  the  sports- 
man with  his  sharp,  shrill,  and  strangely  expressive  bark. 

The  most  serious  objection  to  the  use  of  the  cocker  is  the  difficulty  of 
teaching  him  to  distinguish  his  game,  and  confine  himself  within  bounds ; 
for  he  will  too  often  flush  everything  that  comes  within  his  reach.  It  is 
often  the  practice  to  attach  bells  to  his  collar,  that  the  sportsman  may 
know  where  he  is  ;  but  there  is  an  inconvenience  connected  with  this,  that 
the  noise  of  the  bells  will  often  disturb  and  spring  the  game  before  the 
dog  comes  fairly  upon  it. 

Patience  and  perseverance,  with  a  due  mixture  of  kindness  and  correc- 
tion, will,  however,  accomplish  a  great  deal  in  the  tuition  of  the  well-bred 
spaniel.  He  may  at  first  hunt  about  after  every  bird  that  presents  itself, 
or  chase  the  interdicted  game  ;  but,  if  he  is  immediately  called  in  and  rated, 
or  perhaps  corrected,  but  not  too  severely,  he  will  learn  his  proper  lesson, 
and  will  recognise  the  game,  to  which  alone  his  attention  must  be  directed. 
The  grand  secret  in  breaking  in  these  dogs  is  mildness,  mingled  with  per- 
severance, the  lessons  being  enforced,  and  practically  illustrated  by  the 
example  of  an  old  and  steady  dog. 

These  spaniels  will  sometimes  vie  with  almost  every  other  species  of 
dog  in  intelligence,  and  will  not  yield  to  one  of  them  in  fidelity.  A 
gentleman  in  Sussex  had  an  old  cocker,  that  was  his  constant  companion, 
both  in  the  house  and  the  field.  If  the  morning  was  rainy  the  dog  was 
perfectly  quiet ;  if  it  was  fine  he  became  restless,  and,  at  the  usual  time 
for  his  master  to  go  out,  he  would  take  him  by  the  flap  of  his  coat,  and 
gently  pull  at  it.  If  the  door  was  opened,  he  ran  immediately  to  the 
keeper's  lodge,  which  was  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  house.  This 
was  a  signal  for  the  other  dogs  to  be  brought  up,  and  then  he  trotted  back 
to  announce  their  approach. 

THE  KING  CHARLES'S  SPANIEL, 

so  called  from  the  fondness  of  Charles  II.  for  it — who  usually  had  some 
of  them  following  him,  wherever  he  went — belongs  likewise  to  the  cockers. 
Its  form  and  character  are  well  preserved  in  one  of  the  paintings  of  the 
unfortunate  parent  of  that  monarch  and  his  family.  The  ears  deeply 
fringed  and  sweeping  the  ground,  the  rounder  form  of  the  forehead,  the 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  45 

larger  and  moister  eye,  the  longer  and  silken  coat,  and  the  clearness  of 
the  tan,  and  white  and  black  colour,  sufficiently  distinguish  this  variety. 
His  beauty  and  diminutive  size  have  consigned  him  to  the  drawing-room 
or  parlour. 

Charles  the  First  had  a  breed  of  spaniels,  very  small,  with  the  hair  black 
and  curly.  The  spaniel  of  the  second  Charles  was  of  the  black  and  tan 
breed. 

The  King  Charles's  breed  of  the  present  day  is  materially  altered  for 
the  worse.  The  muzzle  is  almost  as  short,  and  the  forehead  as  ugly  and 
prominent,  as  the  veriest  bull-dog.  The  eye  is  increased  to  double  its 
former  size,  and  has  an  expression  of  stupidity  with  which  the  character 
of  the  dog  too  accurately  corresponds.  Still  there  is  the  long  ear,  and  the 
silky  coat,  and  the  beautiful  colour  of  the  hair,  and  for  these  the  dealers 
do  not  scruple  to  ask  twenty,  thirty,  and  even  fifty  guineas. 

THE  SPRINGER. 

This  dog  is  slower  and  steadier  in  its  range  than  the  cocker ;  but  it  is  a 
much  safer  dog  for  the  shooter,  and  can  better  stand  a  hard  day's  work. 
The  largest  and  best  breed  of  springers  is  said  to  be  in  Sussex,  and  is 
much  esteemed  in  the  Wealds  of  that  county. 

From  a  cross  with  the  terrier  a  black  and  tan  variety  was  procured, 
which  was  cultivated  by  the  late  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  thence  called  the 
Norfolk  Spaniel.  It  is  larger  than  the  common  springer,  and  stancher, 
and  stouter.  It  often  forms  a  strong  individual  attachment,  and  is  un- 
happy and  pines  away  when  separated  from  its  master.  It  is  more  ill- 
tempered  than  the  common  springer,  and,  if  not  well  broken  in,  is  often 
exceedingly  obstinate. 

THE  BLACK  AND  TAN  SPANIEL, 

the  cross  of  the  terrier  being  nearly  or  quite  got  rid  of,  is  often  a  beau- 
tiful animal,  and  is  much  valued,  although  it  is  frequently  considered  a 
somewhat  stupid  animal.  The  cocker  and  the  springer  are  sometimes 
used  as  finders  in  coursing. 

THE  BLENHEIM  SPANIEL, 

a  breed  cultivated  by  one  of  the  Dukes  of  Marlborough,  belongs  to  this 
division.  From  its  beauty,  and  occasional  gaiety,  it  is  oftener  an  inha- 
bitant of  the  drawing-room  than  the  field ;  but  it  occasionally  breaks  out, 
and  shows  what  nature  designed  it  for.  Some  of  these  carpeted  pets  ac- 
quit themselves  nobly  in  the  covert.  There  they  ought  oftener  to  be ;  for 
they  have  not  much  individuality  of  attachment  to  recommend  them,  and, 
like  other  spoiled  animals,  both  quadruped  and  biped,  misbehave.  The 
breed  has  degenerated  of  late,  and  is  not  always  to  be  had  pure,  even  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Blenheim.  This  spaniel  may  be  distinguished  by 
the  length  and  silkiness  of  the  coat,  the  deep  fringe  about  the  ear,  the  arch 
and  deep-feathering  of  the  tail,  the  full  and  moist  eye,  and  the  blackness 
of  the  palate. 

THE  WATER-SPANIEL. 

Of  this  breed  there  are  two  varieties,  a  larger  and  smaller,  both  useful 
according  to  the  degree  of  range  or  the  work  required ;  the  smaller,  how- 
ever, being  ordinarily  preferable.  Whatever  be  his  general  size,  strength 
and  compactness  of  form  are  requisite.  His  head  is  long,  his  face  smooth 


46 


SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 


and  his  limbs,  more  developed  than  those  of  the  springer,  should  be  mus- 
cular, his  carcase  round,  and  his  hair  long  and  closely  curled.  Good 
breaking  is  more  necessary  here  than  even  with  the  land-spaniel,  and,  for- 
tunately, it  is  more  easily  accomplished ;  for,  the  water-spaniel,  although  a 
stouter,  is  a  more  docile  animal  than  the  land  one. 

Docility  and  affection  are  stamped  on  his  countenance,  and  he  rivals 
every  other  breed  in  his  attachment  to  his  master.     His  work  is  double  ; 


THE   WATER-SPANIEL. 

first  to  find,  when  ordered  so  to  do,  and  to  back  behind  the  sportsman 
when  the  game  will  be  more  advantageously  trodden  up.  In  both  he 
must  be  taught  to  be  perfectly  obedient  to  the  voice,  that  he  may  be  kept 
within  range,  and  not  unnecessarily  disturb  the  birds.  A  more  import- 
ant part  of  his  duty,  however,  is  to  find  and  bring  the  game  that  has 
dropped.  To  teach  him  to  find  is  easy  enough,  for  a  young  water-spaniel 
will  as  readily  take  to  the  water  as  a  pointer  puppy  will  stop  ;  but  to 
bring  his  game  without  tearing  is  a  more  difficult  lesson,  and  the  most 
difficult  of  all  is  to  make  him  suspend  the  pursuit  of  the  wounded  game 
while  the  sportsman  re-loads. 

The  water- spaniel  was  originally  from  Spain ;  but  the  pure  breed  has 
been  lost,  and  the  present  dog  is  probably  descended  from  the  large  water- 
dog  and  the  English  setter. 

The  water  and  land  spaniels  differ  materially  from  each  other.  The 
water-spaniel,  although  when  at  his  work  being  all  that  his  master  can 
desire,  is,  when  unemployed,  comparatively  a  slow  and  inactive  dog ;  but 
under  this  sobriety  of  demeanor  is  concealed  a  strength  and  fidelity  of 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  47 

attachment  to  which  the  more  lively  land-spaniel  cannot  always  lay  just 
claim.  The  writer  of  this  work  once  saved  a  young  water-spaniel  from 
the  persecution  of  a  crowd  of  people  who  had  driven  it  into  a  passage, 
and  were  pelting  it  with  stones.  The  animal  had  the  character  of  being, 
contrary  to  what  his  species  usually  are,  exceedingly  savage ;  and  he  suf- 
fered himself  to  be  taken  up  by  me  and  carried  from  his  foes  with  a  kind 
of  sullenness  ;  but  when,  being  out  of  the  reach  of  danger,  he  was  put 
down,  he  gazed  on  his  deliverer,  and  then  crouched  at  his  feet. 

From  that  moment  he  attached  himself  to  his  new  master  with  an 
intensity  of  affection  scarcely  conceivable — never  expressed  by  any 
boisterous  caresses,  but  by  endeavouring  to  be  in  some  manner  in  contact 
with  him ;  resting  his  head  upon  his  foot ;  lying  upon  some  portion  of 
his  apparel,  his  eye  intently  fixed  upon  him ;  endeavouring  to  understand 
every  expression  of  his  countenance.  He  would  follow  one  gentleman, 
and  one  only,  to  the  river-side,  and  behave  gallantly  and  nobly  there  ;  but 
the  moment  he  was  dismissed  he  would  scamper  home,  gaze  upon  his 
master,  and  lay  himself  down  at  his  feet.  In  one  of  these  excursions  he 
was  shot.  He  crawled  home,  reached  his  master's  feet,  and  expired  in 
the  act  of  licking  his  hand. 

Perhaps  the  author  may  be  permitted  to  relate  one  story  more  of  the 
water-spaniel :  he  pledges  himself  for  its  perfect  truth.  The  owner  of 
the  dog  is  telling  this  tale.  "  I  was  once  on  the  sea-coast,  when  a  small, 
badly-formed,  and  leaky  fishing-boat  was  cast  on  shore,  on  a  fearful  reef 
of  rocks.  Three  men  and  a  boy  of  ten  years  old  constituted  the  crew. 
The  men  swam  on  shore,  but  they  were  so  bruised  against  the  rocks,  that 
they  could  not  render  any  assistance  to  the  poor  boy,  and  no  person  could 
be  found  to  venture  out  in  any  way.  I  heard  the  noise  and  went  to  the 
spot  with  my  dog.  I  spoke  to  him,  and  in  he  went,  more  like  a  seal  than 
a  dog,  and  after  several  fruitless  attempts  to  mount  the  wreck  he  suc- 
ceeded, and  laid  hold  of  the  boy,  who  clung  to  the  ropes,  screaming  in  the 
most  fearful  way  at  being  thus  dragged  into  the  water.  The  waves  dashed 
frightfully  on  the  rocks.  In  the  anxiety  and  responsibility  of  the  moment 
I  thought  that  the  dog  had  missed  him,  and  I  stripped  off  my  clothes, 
resolved  to  render  what  assistance  I  could.  I  was  just  in  the  act  of 
springing  from  the  shore,  having  selected  the  moment  when  the  receding 
waves  gave  me  the  best  chance  of  rendering  any  assistance,  when  I  saw 
old  '  Bagsman,'  for  that  was  the  name  of  my  dog,  with  the  struggling 
boy  in  his  mouth,  arid  the  head  uppermost.  I  rushed  to  the  place  where 
he  must  land,  and  the  waves  bore  the  boy  and  the  dog  into  my  arms. 

"  Some  time  after  that  I  was  shooting  wild-fowl.  I  and  my  dog  had 
been  working  hard,  and  I  left  him  behind  me  while  I  went  to  a  neigh- 
bouring town  to  purchase  gunpowder.  A  man,  in  a  drunken  frolic,  had 
pushed  off  in  a  boat  with  a  girl  in  it ;  the  tide  going  out  carried  the  boat 
quickly  away,  and  the  man  becoming  frightened,  and  unable  to  swim, 
jumped  overboard.  Bagsman,  who  was  on  the  spot,  hearing  the  splash, 
jumped  in,  swam  out  to  the  man,  caught  hold  of  him,  and  brought  him 
twenty  or  thirty  yards  towards  the  shore,  when  the  drunken  fellow  clasped 
the  dog  tight  round  the  body,  and  they  both  went  down  together.  The  girl 
was  saved  by  a  boat  going  to  her  assistance.  The  body  of  the  man  was 
recovered  about  an  hour  afterwards,  with  that  of  the  dog  clasped  tight  in 
his  arms,  thus  dragging  him  to  the  bottom.  '  Poor  Bagsman  !  thy  worth 
deserves  to  be  thus  chronicled.'  " 


48 


SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 


THE  POODLE. 

The  particular  cross  from  which  this  dog  descended  is  unknown,  but 
the  variety  produced  has  been  carefully  preserved.  It  is,  probably,  of 
continental  origin,  and  is  known  by  its  thick  curly  hair  concealing  almost 
every  part  of  the  face,  and  giving  it  the  appearance  of  a  short,  thick, 
unintelligent  head.  When,  however,  that  hair  is  removed,  there  is  still 
the  large  head ;  but  there  is  also  the  cerebral  cavity  more  capacious  than 
in  any  other  dog,  and  the  frontal  sinuses  fully  developed,  and  exhibiting 
every  indication  of  the  intellectual  class  to  which  it  belongs. 


THE  POODLE. 


It  was  originally  a  water-dog,  as  its  long  and  curly  hair,  and  its  pro- 
pensities in  its  domesticated  state,  prove ;  but,  from  its  peculiar  sagacity, 
it  is  capable  of  being  trained  to  almost  any  useful  purpose,  and  its  strong 
individual  attachment  renders  it  more  the  companion  of  man  than  a  mere 
sporting  dog :  indeed,  its  qualities  as  a  sporting  dog  are  seldom  recog- 
nised by  its  owner. 

These  dogs  have  far  more  courage  than  the  water-spaniel,  all  the  saga- 
city of  the  Newfoundland,  more  general  talent,  if  the  expression  may  be 
used,  and  more  individual  attachment  than  either  of  them,  and  without 
the  fawning  of  the  one,  or  the  submissiveness  of  the  other.  The  poodle 
seems  conscious  of  his  worth,  and  there  is  often  a  quiet  dignity  accompa- 
nying his  demonstrations  of  friendship. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  49 

This  dog,  however,  possesses  a  very  peculiar  kind  of  intelligence.  It 
will  almost  perform  the  common  offices  of  a  servant :  it  will  ring  the  bell 
and  open  the  door.  Mr.  Wilkie,  of  Ladythorn  in  Northumberland,  had 
a  poodle  which  he  had  instructed  to  go  through  all  the  apparent  agonies  of 
dying.  He  would  fall  on  one  side,  stretch  himself  out,  and  move  his  hind 
legs  as  if  he  were  in  great  pain ;  he  would  next  simulate  the  convulsive 
throbs  of  departing  life,  and  then  stretch  out  his  limbs  and  thus  seem  as  if 
he  had  expired.  In  this  situation  he  would  remain  motionless,  until  he  had 
his  master's  command  to  rise. 

The  portrait  of  Sancho,  a  poodle,  that  was  with  difficulty  forced  from 
the  grave  of  his  master,  after  the  battle  of  Salamanca,  is  familiar  to  many 
of  our  readers.  Enticed  from  his  post  he  could  not  be,  nor  was  he  at 
length  taken  away  until  weakened  by  grief  and  starvation.  He  by  degrees 
attached  himself  to  his  new  master,  the  Marquis  of  Worcester,  but  not 
with  the  natural  ardour  of  a  poodle.  He  was  attentive  to  every  command, 
and  could  perform  many  little  domestic  offices.  Sometimes  he  would 
exhibit  considerable  buoyancy  of  spirit ;  but  there  oftener  seemed  to  be 
about  him  the  recollection  of  older  and  closer  friendship. 

Another  poodle  occupies  an  interesting  place  in  the  history  of  the 
Peninsular  war.  He  too  belonged  to  a  French  officer,  who  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Castella.  The  French  were  compelled  to  retreat  before 
they  could  bury  their  dead,  and  the  soldiers  wished  to  carry  with  them 
this  regimental  favourite ;  but  he  would  not  be  forced  from  the  corpse  of 
his  master.  Some  soldiers  afterwards  traversing  the  field  of  battle,  one  of 
them  discovered  the  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honour  on  the  breast  of  the 
fallen  officer,  and  stooped  to  take  it  away,  when  the  dog  flew  savagely  at 
him,  and  would  not  quit  his  hold,  until  the  bayonet  of  another  soldier  laid 
him  lifeless. 

A  veterinary  surgeon,  who,  before  any  other  animal  than  the  horse  was 
acknowledged  to  be  the  legitimate  object  of  medical  care,  did  not  disdain 
to  attend  to  the  diseases  of  the  dog,  used  to  say  that  there  were  two  breeds 
which  he  never  wished  to  see  in  his  infirmary,  namely,  the  poodle  and  the 
Norfolk  spaniel ;  for,  although  not  always  difficult  to  manage,  he  could 
never  attach  them  to  him,  but  they  annoyed  him  by  their  pitiful  and 
imploring  gaze  during  the  day,  and  their  mournful  howling  at  night. 

Custom  has  determined  that  the  natural  coat  of  this  animal  shall  be 
taken  from  him.  It  may  be  a  relief  to  the  poodle  for  a  part  of  his  coat 
to  be  stripped  off  in  hot  weather,  and  the  curly  hair  which  is  left  on  his 
chest,  contrasted  with  his  smooth  and  well-rounded  loins  and  quarters, 
may  make  it  look  pretty  enough ;  but  it  should  be  remembered  that  he 
was  not  designed  by  nature  to  be  thus  exposed  to  the  cold  of  winter,  and 
that  there  are  no  dogs  so  liable  to  rheumatism,  and  that  rheumatism  dege- 
nerating into  palsy,  as  the  well-trimmed  poodle. 

THE  BAR BET 

is  a  small  poodle,  the  production  of  some  unknown  and  disadvantageous 
cross  with  the  true  poodle.  It  has  all  the  sagacity  of  the  poodle, 
and  will  perform  even  more  than  his  tricks.  It  is  always  in  action ; 
always  fidgety  ;  generally  incapable  of  much  affection,  but  inheriting  much 
self-love  and  occasional  ill  temper ;  unmanageable  by  any  one  but  its 
owner  ;  eaten  up  with  red  mange  ;  and  frequently  a  nuisance  to  its  master 
and  a  torment  to  every  one  else. 

E 


50  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

We  must  not,  however,  do  it  injustice ;  it  is  very  intelligent,  and  truly 
attached  to  its  owner. 

The  barbet  possesses  more  sagacity  than  most  other  dogs,  but  it  is 
sagacity  of  a  particular  kind,  and  frequently  connected  with  various 
amusing  tricks.  Mr.  Jesse,  in  his  Gleanings  in  Natural  History,  gives 
a  singular  illustration  of  this.  A  friend  of  his  had  a  barbet  that  was  not 
always  under  proper  command.  In  order  to  keep  him  in  better  order, 
he  purchased  a  small  whip,  with  which  he  corrected  him  once  or  twice 
during  a  walk.  On  his  return  the  whip  was  put  on  a  table  in  the  hall, 
but  on  the  next  morning  it  was  missing.  It  was  soon  afterwards  found 
concealed  in  an  out-building,  and  again  made  use  of  in  correcting  the  dog. 
Once  more  it  would  have  been  lost,  but,  on  watching  the  dog,  who  was 
suspected  of  having  stolen  it,  he  was  seen  to  take  it  from  the  hall  table 
in  order  to  hide  it  once  more. 

THE  MALTESE  DOG 

can  be  traced  back  to  an  early  period.  Strabo  says  that  "  there  is  a  town 
in  Sicily  called  Melita,  whence  are  exported  many  beautiful  dogs  called 
Canes  Melitcei.  They  were  the  peculiar  favourites  of  the  women  ;  but 
now  (A.D.  25)  there  is  less  account  made  of  these  animals,  which  are  not 
bigger  than  common  ferrets  or  weasels,  yet  they  are  not  small  in  under- 
standing nor  unstable  in  their  love."  They  are  also  found  in  Malta  and 
in  other  islands  of  the  Mediterranean,  and  they  maintain  the  same  character 
of  being  devotedly  aifectionate  to  their  owners,  while,  it  is  added, — and 
they  are  not  loved  the  less  for  that, — they  are  ill-tempered  to  strangers. 

THE  LION  DOG 

is  a  diminutive  likeness  of  the  noble  animal  whose  name  it  bears.  Its 
head,  neck,  shoulders,  and  fore-legs  down  to  the  very  feet,  are  covered 
with  long,  wavy,  silky  hairs.  On  the  other  parts  of  the  dog  it  is  so  short 
as  scarcely  to  be  grasped,  except  that  on  the  tail  there  is  a  small  bush  of 
hair.  The  origin  of  this  breed  is  not  known  ;  it  is,  perhaps,  an  interme- 
diate one  between  the  Maltese  and  the  Turkish  dog. 

THE  TURKISH  DOG, 

as  it  is  improperly  called,  is  a  native  of  hot  climates.  The  supposition  of 
Buffon  is  not  an  improbable  one,  that,  being  taken  from  some  temperate 
country  to  one  considerably  hotter,  the  European  dog  probably  acquired 
some  cutaneous  disease.  This  is  no  uncommon  occurrence  in  Guinea, 
the  East  Indies,  and  South  America.  Some  of  these  animals  afterwards 
found  their  way  into  Europe,  and,  from  their  singularity,  care  was  taken  to 
multiply  the  breed.  Aldrovandus  states  that  the  first  two  of  them  made 
their  appearance  in  Europe  in  his  time,  but  the  breed  was  not  continued, 
on  account,  as  it  was  supposed,  of  the  climate  being  too  cold  for  them. 

The  few  that  are  occasionally  seen  in  England  bear  about  them  every 
mark  of  a  degenerated  race.  They  have  no  activity,  and  they  show  little 
intelligence  or  affection.  One  singular  circumstance  appertains  to  all  that 
the  author  of  this  work  has  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing,  — their  teeth 
became  very  early  diseased,  and  drop  from  the  gums.  That  eminent  zo- 
ologist, Mr.  Yarrell,  examining,  with  the  author  of  this  work,  one  that  had 
died,  certainly  not  more  than  five  years  old,  found  that  it  had  neither 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG. 


51 


incisors  nor  canine  teeth,  and  that  the  molars  were  reduced  to  one  on  each 
side,  the  large  tubercular  tooth  being  the  only  one  that  was  remaining. 
At  the  scientific  meeting  of  the  Zoological  Society,  the  same  gentleman 
stated,  that  he  had  examined  the  mouths  of  two  individuals  of  the  same 
variety,  then  alive  at  the  gardens,  in  both  of  which  the  teeth  were  remark- 
ably deficient.  In  neither  of  them  were  there  any  false  molars,  and  the 
incisors  in  both  were  deficient  in  number.  Before  the  age  of  four  years  the 
tongue  is  usually  disgustingly  hanging  from  the  mouths  of  these  animals. 

THE  ALPINE  SPANIEL,  OR  BERNARDINE  DOG, 


is  a  breed  almost  peculiar  to  the  Alps,  and  to  the  district  between  Switzer- 
land and  Savoy.  The  passes  over  these  mountains  are  exceedingly  dan- 
gerous from  their  steepness  and  narrowness.  A  precipice  of  many  hundred 
feet  is  often  found  on  one  side,  and  perpendicular  rocks  on  the  other,  while 
the  path  is  glazed  with  frozen  snow  or  ice.  In  many  places  the  path  is 
overhung  with  huge  masses  of  frozen  snow,  which  occasionally  loosen  and 
fall,  when  the  dreadful  storms  peculiar  to  these  regions  suddenly  come  on, 
and  form  an  insurmountable  barrier,  or  sweep  away  or  bury  the  unfortunate 
traveller.  Should  he  escape  these  dangers,  the  path  is  now  become  track- 
less, and  he  wanders  amid  the  dreary  solitudes  until  night  overtakes  him ; 

E  2 


52  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

and  then,  \\  hen  he  pauses  from  fatigue  or  uncertainty  with  regard  to  the 
path  he  should  pursue,  his  limbs  are  speedily  benumbed.  Fatal  slumbers, 
which  he  cannot  shake  off,  steal  upon  him,  and  he  crouches  under  some 
ledge,  and  sleeps,  to  wake  no  more.  The  snow  drifts  on.  It  is  almost  con- 
tinually falling,  and  he  is  soon  concealed  from  all  human  help. 

On  the  top  of  Mount  St.  Bernard,  and  near  one  of  the  most  dangerous 
of  these  passes,  is  a  convent,  in  which  is  preserved  a  breed  of  large  dogs 
trained  to  search  for  the  benighted  and  frozen  wanderer.  Every  night, 
and  particularly  when  the  wind  blows  tempestuously,  some  of  these  dogs 
are  sent  out.  They  traverse  every  path  about  the  mountains,  and  their 
scent  is  so  exquisite  that  they  can  discover  the  traveller,  although  he  may 
lie  many  feet  deep  in  the  snow.  Having  found  him,  they  set  to  work  and 
endeavour  to  scrape  away  the  snow,  uttering  a  deep  bark  that  reverberates 
from  rock  to  rock,  and  tells  those  who  are  watching  in  the  convent  that 
some  poor  wretch  is  in  peril.  Generally,  a  little  flask  of  spirits  is  tied 
round  the  neck  of  the  animal,  by  drinking  which  the  benighted  traveller 
may  recruit  his  strength,  until  more  effectual  rescue  arrive.  The  monks 
hasten  in  the  direction  of  the  sound,  and  often  succeed  in  rekindling  the 
vital  spark  before  it  is  quite  extinguished.  Very  many  travellers  have 
been  thus  rescued  from  death.by  these  benevolent  men  and  their  intelligent 
and  interesting  quadruped  servants. 

One  of  these  Bernardine  dogs,  named  Barry,  had  a  medal  tied  round  his 
neck  as  a  badge  of  honourable  distinction,  for  he  had  saved  the  lives  of 
forty  persons.  He  at  length  died  nobly  in  his  vocation.  A  Piedmontese 
courier  arrived  at  St.  Bernard  on  a  very  stormy  day,  labouring  to  make 
his  way  to  the  little  village  of  St.  Pierre,  in  the  valley  beneath  the  moun- 
tain, where  his  wife  and  children  lived.  It  was  in  vain  that  the  monks 
attempted  to  check  his  resolution  to  reach  his  family.  They  at  last  gave 
him  two  guides,  each  of  whom  was  accompanied  by  a  dog,  one  of  which 
was  the  remarkable  creature  whose  services  had  been  so  valuable.  Descend- 
ing from  the  convent,  they  were  overwhelmed  by  two  avalanches  or  heaps 
of  falling  snow,  and  the  same  destruction  awaited  the  family  of  the  poor 
courier,  who  were  travelling  up  the  mountain  in  the  hope  of  obtaining 
some  news  of  the  husband  and  father. 

A  beautiful  engraving  has  been  made  of  this  noble  dog.  It  represents 
him  as  saving  a  child  which  he  had  found  in  the  Glacier  of  Balsore,  and 
cherished,  and  warmed,  and  induced  to  climb  upon  his  shoulders,  and  thus 
preserved  from,  otherwise,  certain  destruction. 

THE  NEWFOUNDLAND  DOG. 

The  Newfoundland  is  a  spaniel  of  large  size.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
island  of  which  he  bears  the  name ;  but  his  history  is  disgraceful  to  the 
owners  of  so  valuable  an  animal.  The  employment  of  the  lower  classes 
of  the  inhabitants  of  St.  John,  in  Newfoundland,  is  divided  between  the 
cutting  of  wood,  and  the  drawing  of  it  and  other  merchandise  in  the 
winter,  and  fishing  in  the  summer."  The  carts  used  in  the  winter  work 
are  drawn  by  these  dogs,  who  are  almost  invariably  urged  and  goaded  on 
beyond  their  strength,  fed  only  with  putrid  salt-fish,  and  an  inadequate 
quantity  even  of  that.  A  great  many  of  them  are  worn  out  and  die  before 
the  winter  is  over;  and,  when  the  summer  approaches,  and  the  fishing 
season  commences,  many  of  them  are  quite  abandoned,  and,  uniting  with 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG. 


53 


their  companions,  prowl  about  preying  on  the  neighbouring-  flocks,  or 
absolutely  starving. 

Mr.  Macgregor,  however,  states  that  "in  almost  every  other  part  of 
British  America  they  are  valuable  and  useful.  They  are  remarkably  do- 
cile and  obedient  to  their  masters,  serviceable  in  all  the  fishing  countries, 
and  yoked  in  pairs  to  draw  the  winter's  fuel  home.  They  are  faithful, 
good-natured,  and  ever  friendly  to  man.  They  will  defend  their  master 
and  their  master's  property,  and  suffer  no  person  to  injure  either  the  one 


THE    NEWFOUNDLAND    DOG. 

or  the  other ;  and,  however  extreme  may  be  the  danger,  they  will  not 
leave  them  for  a  minute.  They  seem  only  to  want  the  faculty  of  speech, 
in  order  to  make  their  good  wishes  and  feelings  understood,  and  they  are 
capable  of  being  trained  for  all  the  purposes  for  which  every  other  variety 
of  the  canine  species  is  used."  a 

That  which  most  recommends  the  Newfoundland  dog  is  his  fearlessness 
of  water,  and  particularly  as  connected  with  the  preservation  of  human 
life.  The  writer  of  the  present  work  .knows  one  of  these  animals  that 
has  preserved  from  drowning  four  human  beings. 

»  Historical  and  Descriptive  Sketches  of  British  America,  by  J.  Macgregor. 


54  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

A  native  of  Germany  was  travelling  one  evening  on  foot  through  Hol- 
land, accompanied  by  a  large  dog.  Walking  on  a  high  bank  which  formed 
one  side  of  a  dyke,  his  foot  slipped,  and  he  was  precipitated  into  the  water ; 
and,  being  unable  to  swim,  soon  became  senseless.  When  he  recovered 
his  recollection,  he  found  himself  in  a  cottage  on  the  contrary  side  of  the 
dyke,  surrounded  by  peasants,  who  had  been  using  the  means  for  the  reco- 
very of  drowned  persons.  The  account  given  by  one  of  them  was,  that, 
returning  home  from  his  labour,  he  observed  at  a  considerable  distance  a 
large  dog  in  the  water,  swimming  and  dragging,  and  sometimes  pushing 
along  something  that  he  seemed  to  have  great  difficulty  in  supporting, 
but  which  he  at  length  succeeded  in  getting  into  a  small  creek  on  the  oppo- 
site side.  When  the  animal  had  pulled  what  he  had  hitherto  supported 
as  far  out  of  the  water  as  he  was  able,  the  peasant  discovered  that  it  was 
the  body  of  a  man,  whose  face  and  hands  the  dog  was  industriously  licking. 
The  peasant  hastened  to  a  bridge  across  the  dyke,  and,  having  obtained 
assistance,  the  body  was  conveyed  to  a  neighbouring  house,  where  proper 
means  soon  restored  the  drowned  man  to  life.  Two  very  considerable 
bruises,  with  the  marks  of  teeth,  appeared,  one  on  his  shoulder  and  the 
other  on  his  poll ;  hence  it  was  presumed  that  the  faithful  beast  had  first 
seized  his  master  by  the  shoulder,  and  swam  with  him  in  this  manner  for 
some  time,  but  that  his  sagacity  had  prompted  him  to  quit  this  hold,  and 
to  shift  it  to  the  nape  of  the  neck,  by  which  he  had  been  enabled  to  sup- 
port the  head  out  of  water ;  and  in  this  way  he  had  conveyed  him  nearly 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  before  he  had  brought  him  to  the  creek,  where  the 
banks  were  low  and  accessible.  * 

Dr.  Beattie  relates  an  instance  of  a  gentleman  attempting  to  cross  the 
river  Dee,  then  frozen  over,  near  Aberdeen.  The  ice  gave  way  about  the 
middle  of  the  river;  but,  having  a  gun  in  his  hand,  he  supported  himself 
by  placing  it  across  the  opening.  His  dog  then  ran  to  a  neighbouring 
village,  where,  with  the  most  significant  gestures,  he  pulled  a  man  by  the 
coat,  and  prevailed  on  him  to  follow  him.  They  arrived  at  the  spot  just 
in  time  to  save  the  drowning  man's  life. 

Of  the  noble  disposition  of  the  Newfoundland  dog,  Dr.  Abel,  in  one  of 
his  lectures  on  Phrenology,  relates  a  singular  instance.  "  When  this  dog 
left  his  master's  house,  he  was  often  assailed  by  a  number  of  little  noisy 
dogs  in  the  street.  He  usually  passed  them  with  apparent  unconcern,  as 
if  they  were  beneath  his  notice ;  but  one  little  cur  was  particularly  trou- 
blesome, and  at  length  carried  his  impudence  so  far  as  to  bite  the  New- 
foundland dog  in  the  leg.  This  was  a  degree  of  wanton  insult  beyond 
what  he  could  patiently  endure ;  and  he  instantly  turned  round,  ran  after 
the  offender,  and  seized  him  by  the  skin  of  the  back.  In  this  way  he  car- 
ried him  in  his  mouth  to  the  quay,  and,  holding  him  some  time  over  the 
water,  at  length  dropped  him  into  it.  He  did  not,  however,  seem  to 
design  that  the  culprit  should  be  punished  capitally.  He  waited  a  little 
while,  until  the  poor  animal,  who  was  unused  to  that  element,  was  not 
only  well  ducked,  but  nearly  sinking,  and  then  plunged  in,  and  brought 
him  safe  to  land." 

"  It  would  be  difficult,"  says  Dr.  Hancock,  in  his  Essay  on  Instinct.  "  to 
conceive  any  punishment  more  aptly  contrived,  or  more  completely  in 
character.  Indeed,  if  it  were  fully  analyzed,  an  ample  commentary  might 
be  written  in  order  to  show  what  a  variety  of  comparisons  and  motives 
and  generous  feelings  entered  into  the  composition  of  this  act." 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  55 

No  one  ever  drew  more  legitimate  consequences  from  certain  existing 
premises. 

One  other  story  should  not  be  omitted  of  this  noble  breed  of  water- 
dogs.  A  vessel  was  driven  on  the  beach  of  Lydd,  in  Kent.  The  surf 
was  rolling  furiously.  Eight  poor  fellows  were  crying  for  help,  but  not 
a  boat  could  be  got  off  to  their  assistance.  At  length  a  gentleman  came 
on  the  beach  accompanied  by  his  Newfoundland  dog:  he  directed  the 
attention  of  the  animal  to  the  vessel,  and  put  a  short  stick  into  his  mouth. 
The  intelligent  and  courageous  fellow  at  once  understood  his  meaning, 
sprung  into  the  sea,  and  fought  his  way  through  the  waves.  He 
could  not,  however,  get  close  enough  to  the  vessel  to  deliver  that  with 
which  he  was  charged  ;  but  the  crew  understood  what  was  meant,  and  they 
made  fast  a  rope  to  another  piece  of  wood,  and  threw  it  towards  him.  The 
noble  beast  dropped  his  own  piece  of  wood  and  immediately  seized  that 
which  had  been  cast  to  him,  and  then,  with  a  degree  of  strength  and 
determination  scarcely  credible, — for  he  was  again  and  again  lost  under  the 
waves, — he  dragged  it  through  the  surge  and  delivered  it  to  his  master. 
A  line  of  communication  was  thus  formed,  and  every  man  on  board  was 
rescued. 

There  is,  however,  a  more  remarkable  fact  recorded  in  the  Penny  Ma- 
gazine. "  During  a  heavy  gale  a  ship  had  struck  on  a  rock  near  the 
land.  The  only  chance  of  escape  for  the  shipwrecked  was  to  get  a  rope 
ashore ;  for  it  was  impossible  for  any  boat  to  live  in  the  sea  as  it  was  then 
running.  There  were  two  Newfoundland  dogs  and  a  bull-dog  on  board. 
One  of  the  Newfoundland  dogs  was  thrown  overboard,  with  a  rope  thrown 
round  him,  and  perished  in  the  waves.  The  second  shared  a  similar  fate  : 
but  the  bull-dog  fought  his  way  through  that  terrible  sea,  and,  arriving  safe 
on  shore,  rope  and  all,  became  the  saviour  of  the  crew." 

Some  of  the  true  Newfoundland  dogs  have  been  brought  to  Europe  and 
have  been  used  as  retrievers.  They  are  principally  valuable  for  the  fear- 
less manner  in  which  they  will  penetrate  the  thickest  cover.  They  are 
comparatively  small,  but  muscular,  strong,  and  generally  black.  A 
larger  variety  has  been  bred,  and  is  now  perfectly  established.  He  is 
seldom  used  as  a  sporting  dog,  or  for  draught,  but  is  admired  on  account 
of  his  stature  and  beauty,  and  the  different  colours  with  which  he  is  often 
marked.  Perhaps  he  is  not  quite  so  good-natured  and  manageable  as  the 
smaller  variety,  and  yet  it  is  not  often  that  much  fault  can  be  found  with 
him  on  this  account. 

A  noble  animal  of  this  kind  was  presented  to  the  Zoological  Society  by 
His  Royal  Highness  Prince  Albert.  He  is  a  great  ornament  to  the 
gardens ;  but  he  had  been  somewhat  unmanageable,  and  had  done  some 
mischief  before  he  was  sent  thither. 

A  portion  of  Lord  Byron's  beautiful  epitaph  on  the  death  of  his  New- 
foundland dog  will  properly  close  our  account  of  this  animal : — 

"  The  poor  dog !  in  life  the  firmest  friend, 
The  first  to  welcome,  foremost  to  defend ; 
Whose  honest  heart  is  still  his  master's  own ; 
Who  labours,  fights,  lives,  breathes  for  him  alone." 

THE  ESQUIMAUX  DOG 

is  a  beast  of  burden  and  of  draught,  usefully  employed  by  the  inhabitants 
of  the  extreme  parts  of  North  America  and  the  neighbouring  islands. 


56 


SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 


When  the  Esquimaux  Indian  goes  in  pursuit  of  the  seal,  the  rein-deer,  or 
the  bear,  his  dogs  carry  the  materials  of  his  temporary  hut,  and  the  few 
necessaries  of  his  simple  life ;  or,  yoked  to  the  sledge,  often  draw  him  and 
his  family  full  sixty  miles  a-day  over  the  frozen  plains  of  these  inhospitable 
regions.  At  other  times  they  assist  in  the  chace,  and  run  down  and 
destroy  the  bear  and  the  rein-deer  on  land,  and  the  seal  on  the  coast. 


THE   ESQUIMAUX   DOG. 

Their  journeys  are  often  without  any  certain  object ;  but,  if  the  dogs 
scent  the  deer  or  the  bear,  they  gallop  away  in  that  direction  until  their 
prey  is  within  reach  of  the  driver,  or  they  are  enabled  to  assist  in  destroy- 
ing their  foe.  Captain  Parry,  in  his  Journal  of  a  Second  Voyage  for  the 
Discovery  of  a  North-West  Passage,  gives  an  amusing  account  of  these  ex- 
peditions. "  A  number  of  dogs,  varying  from  six  to  twelve,  are  attached 
to  each  sledge  by  means  of  a  single  trace,  but  with  no  reins.  An  old  and 
tried  dog  is  placed  as  the  leader,  who,  in  their  simple  journeys,  and  when 
the  chace  is  the  object,  steadily  obeys  the  voice  of  the  driver  sitting  in 
front  of  the  sledge,  with  a  whip  long  enough  to  reach  the  leader.  This 
whip,  however,  is  used  as  seldom  as  possible ;  for  these  dogs,  although 
tractable,  are  ferocious,  and  will  endure  little  correction.  When  the  whip 
is  applied  with  severity  on  one,  he  falls  upon  and  worries  his  neighbour, 
and  he,  in  his  turn  attacks  a  third,  and  there  is  a  scene  of  universal 
confusion,  or  the  dogs  double  from  side  to  side  to  avoid  the  whip,  and  the 
traces  become  entangled,  and  the  safety  of  the  sledge  endangered.  The 
carriage  must  then  be  stopped,  each  dog  put  into  his  proper  place,  and  the 
traces  re-adjusted.  This  frequently  happens  several  times  in  the  course 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  57 

of  the  day.  The  driver  therefore  depends  principally  on  the  docility  of 
the  leader,  who,  with  admirable  precision,  quickens  or  slackens  his  pace, 
and  starts  off  or  stops,  or  turns  to  the  right  or  left,  at  the  summons  of  his 
master.  When  they  are  journeying  homeward,  or  travelling  to  some  spot 
to  which  the  leader  has  been  accustomed  to  go,  he  is  generally  suffered  to 
pursue  his  own  course  ;  for,  although  every  trace  of  the  road  is  lost  in  the 
drifting  snow,  he  scents  it  out,  and  follows  it  with  undeviating  accuracy. 
Even  the  leader,  however,  is  not  always  under  the  control  of  his  master. 
If  the  journey  lies  homeward,  he  will  go  his  own  pace,  and  that  is  usually 
at  the  top  of  his  speed  ;  or,  if  any  game  starts,  or  he  scents  it  at  a  distance, 
no  command  of  his  driver  will  restrain  him.  Neither  the  dog  nor  his 
master  is  half  civilized  or  subdued." 

Each  of  these  dogs  will  draw  a  weight  of  120  Ib.  over  the  snow,  at  the 
rate  of  seven  or  eight  miles  an  hour. 

In  summer,  many  of  these  dogs  are  used  as  beasts  of  burden,  and  each 
carries  from  thirty  to  fifty  pounds.  They  are  then  much  better  kept  than 
in  the  winter ;  for  they  have  the  remains  of  the  whale  and  sea-calf, 
which  their  masters  disdain  to  eat.  The  majority,  however,  are  sent  adrift 
in  the  summer,  and  they  live  on  the  produce  of  the  chace  or  of  their 
constant  thievery.  The  exactness  with  which — the  summer  being  past — 
each  returns  to  his  master,  is  an  admirable  proof  of  sagacity,  and  frequently 
of  attachment. 

In  some  parts  of  Siberia,  on  the  borders  of  the  Oby,  there  are  esta- 
blished relays  of  dogs,  like  the  post-horses  in  other  countries.  Four  of 
these  are  attached  to  a  very  light  vehicle ;  but,  when  much  haste  is  re- 
quired, or  any  very  heavy  goods  are  to  be  conveyed,  more  than  treble  or 
quadruple  that  number  are  harnessed  to  the  vehicle.  M.  de  Lessepsa  gives 
an  almost  incredible  account  of  this.  He  is  speaking  of  the  voracity  of 
these  poor  beasts,  in  the  midst  of  the  snowy  desert,  with  little  or  no  food. 
"  We  had  unharnessed  our  dogs,  in  order  to  bring  them  closer  together,  in 
the  ordinary  way ;  but,  the  moment  they  were  brought  up  to  the  pole, 
they  seized  their  harness,  constructed  of  the  thickest  and  toughest  leather, 
and  tore  it  to  pieces,  and  devoured  it.  It  was  in  vain  that  we  attempted 
every  means  of  restraint.  A  great  number  of  them  escaped  into  the  wilds 
around,  others  wandered  here  and  there,  and  seized  everything  that  came 
within  their  reach,  and  which  their  teeth  could  destroy.  Almost  every 
minute  some  one  of  them  fell  exhausted,  and  immediately  became  the 
prey  of  the  others.  Every  one  that  could  get  within  reach  struggled  for 
his  share.  Every  limb  was  disputed,  and  torn  away  by  a  troop  of  rivals, 
who  attacked  all  within  their  reach.  As  soon  as  one  fell  by  exhaustion 
or  accident,  he  was  seized  by  a  dozen  others,  and  destroyed  in  the  space 
of  a  few  minutes.  In  order  to  defend  ourselves  from  this  crowd  of 
famished  beasts  we  were  compelled  to  have  recourse  to  our  bludgeons  and 
our  swords.  To  this  horrible  scene  of  mutual  destruction  succeeded,  on 
the  following  day,  the  sad  appearance  of  those  that  surrounded  the  sledge, 
to  which  we  had  retreated  for  safety  and  for  warmth.  They  were  thin, 
and  starved,  and  miserable;  they  could  scarcely  move;  their  plaintive 
and  continual  bowlings  seemed  to  claim  our  succour :  but  there  was  no 
possibility  of  relieving  them  in  the  slightest  degree,  except  that  some  of 
them  crept  to  the  opening  in  our  carriage  through  which  the  smoke 

a  Journal  Historique  du  Voyage  de  M.  de  Lesseps.  Paris,  1790.    2  vols.— tome  1. 


58  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

escapes ;  and  the  more  they  felt  the  warmth  the  closer  they  crept,  and  then, 
through  mere  feebleness,  losing  their  equilibrium,  they  rolled  into  the  fire 
before  our  eyes." 

These  dogs  are  not  so  high  as  the  common  pointer,  but  much  larger 
and  stouter,  although  their  thick  hair,  three  or  four  inches  long  in  the 
winter,  gives  them  an  appearance  of  more  stoutness  than  they  possess. 
Under  this  hair  is  a  coating  of  fine  close  soft  wool,  which  begins  to  grow 
in  the  early  part  of  winter,  and  drops  off  in  the  spring.  Their  muzzles 
are  sharp  and  generally  black,  and  their  ears  erect. 

The  Greenland,  and  Siberian,  and  Kamtschatdale  are  varieties  of  the 
Esquimaux  or  Arctic  dogs,  but  enlarged  in  form,  and  better  subdued.  The 
docility  of  some  of  these  is  equal  to  that  of  any  European  breed. 

A  person  of  the  name  of  Chabert,  who  was  afterwards  better  known 
by  the  title  of  "  Fire  King,"  had  a  beautiful  Siberian  dog,  who  would 
draw  him  in  a  light  carriage  20  miles  a-day.  He  asked  200/.  for  him, 
and  sold  him  for  a  considerable  portion  of  that  sum ;  for  he  was  a  most 
beautiful  animal  of  his  kind,  and  as  docile  as  he  was  beautiful.  Between 
the  sale  and  the  delivery,  the  dog  fell  and  broke  his  leg.  Chabert,  to 
whom  the  price  agreed  on  was  of  immense  consequence,  was  in  de- 
spair. He  took  the  dog  at  night  to  a  veterinary  surgeon.  He  formally 
introduced  them  to  each  other.  He  talked  to  the  dog,  pointed  to  his  leg, 
limped  around  the  room,  then  requested  the  surgeon  to  apply  some  ban- 
dages around  the  leg,  and  he  seemed  to  walk  sound  and  well.  He  patted 
the  dog  on  the  head,  who  was  looking  alternately  at  him  and  the  surgeon, 
desired  the  surgeon  to  pat  him,  and  to  offer  him  his  hand  to  lick,  and  then, 
holding  up  his  finger  to  the  dog,  and  gently  shaking  his  head,  quitted  the 
room  and  the  house.  The  dog  immediately  laid  himself  down,  and  sub- 
mitted to  a  reduction  of  the  fracture,  and  the  bandaging  of  the  limb,  with- 
out a  motion,  except  once  or  twice  licking  the  hand  of  the  operator.  He 
was  quite  submissive,  and  in  a  manner  motionless,  day  after  day,  until,  at 
the  expiration  of  a  month,  the  limb  was  sound.  Not  a  trace  of  the  frac- 
ture was  to  be  detected,  and  the  purchaser,  who  is  now  living,  knew 
nothing  about  it. 

The  employment  of  the  Esquimaux  dogs  is  nearly  the  same  as  those 
from  Newfoundland,  and  most  valuable  they  are  to  the  traveller  who  has 
to  find  his  way  over  the  wild  and  trackless  regions  of  the  north.  The 
manner,  however,  in  which  they  are  generally  treated  seems  ill  calculated 
to  cause  any  strong  or  lasting  attachment.  During  their  period  of  labour, 
they,  like  their  brethren  in  Newfoundland,  are  fed  sparingly  on  putrid 
fish,  and  in  summer  they  are  turned  loose  to  shift  for  themselves  until  the 
return  of  the  severe  season  renders  it  necessary  to  their  masters'  interest 
that  they  should  again  be  sought  for,  and  once  more  reduced  to  their  state 
of  toil  and  slavery. 

They  have  been  known  for  several  successive  days  to  travel  more  than 
60  miles.  They  seldom  miss  their  road,  although  they  may  be  driven  over 
one  untrodden  snowy  plain,  where  they  are  occasionally  unable  to  reach 
any  place  of  shelter.  When,  however,  night  comes,  they  partake  with 
their  master  of  the  scanty  fare  which  the  sledge  will  afford,  and,  crowding 
round,  keep  him  warm  and  defend  him  from  danger.  If  any  of  them  fall 
victims  to  the  hardships  to  which  they  are  exposed,  their  master  or  their 
companions  frequently  feed  on  their  remains,  and  their  skins  are  converted 
into  warm  and  comfortable  dresses. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  59 


THE  LAPLAND  DOG. 

Captain  Clarke  thus  describes  the  Lapland  dog : — "  We  had  a  valuable 
companion  in  a  dog  belonging  to  one  of  the  boatmen.  It  was  of  the  true 
Lapland  breed,  and  in  all  respects  similar  to  a  wolf,  excepting  the  tail, 
which  was  bushy  and  curled  like  those  of  the  Pomeranian  race.  This 
dog,  swimming  after  the  boat,  if  his  master  merely  waved  his  hand,  would 
cross  the  lake  as  often  as  he  pleased,  carrying  half  his  body  and  the  whole 
of  his  head  and  tail  out  of  the  water.  Wherever  he  landed,  he  scoured  all 
the  long  grass  by  the  side  of  the  lake  in  search  of  wild-fowl,  and  came 
back  to  us,  bringing  wild-ducks  in  his  mouth  to  the  boat,  and  then,  having 
delivered  his  prey  to  his  master,  he  would  instantly  set  off  again  in  search 
of  more."  a 

But  we  pass  on  to  another  and  more  valuable  species  of  the  dog — 

THE  SHEEP-DOG. 

The  origin  of  the  sheep-dog  is  somewhat  various ;  but  the  predominant 
breed  is  that  of  the  intelligent  and  docile  spaniel.  Although  it  is  now 
found  in  every  civilized  country  in  which  the  sheep  is  cultivated,  it  is  not 
coeval  with  the  domestication  of  that  animal.  When  the  pastures  were  in 
a  manner  open  to  the  first  occupant,  and  every  shepherd  had  a  common 
property  in  them,  it  was  not  so  necessary  to  restrain  the  wandering  of  the 
sheep,  and  the  voice  of  the  shepherd  was  usually  sufficient  to  collect  and 
to  guide  them.  He  preceded  the  flock,  and  they  "  followed  him  whither- 
soever he  went."  In  process  of  time,  however,  man  availed  himself  of  the 
sagacity  of  the  dog  to  diminish  his  own  labour  and  fatigue,  and  this  useful 
servitor  became  the  guide  and  defender  of  the  flock. 

The  sheep-dog  possesses  much  of  the  same  form  and  character  in  every 
country.  The  muzzle  is  sharp,  the  ears  are  short  and  erect,  and  the  animal 
is  covered,  particularly  about  the  neck,  with  thick  and  shaggy  hair.  He 
has  usually  two  dew  claws  on  each  of  the  hind  legs ;  not,  however,  as  in 
the  one  claw  of  other  dogs,  having  a  jointed  attachment  to  the  limb,  but 
merely  connected  by  the  skin  and  some  slight  cellular  substance.  These 
excrescences  should  be  cut  off  when  the  dog  is  young.  The  tail  is  slightly 
turned  upwards  and  long,  and  almost  as  bushy  as  that  of  a  fox,  even  in 
that  variety  whose  coat  is  almost  smooth.  He  is  of  a  black  colour,  or  black 
prevails,  mixed  with  gray  or  brown. 

Professor  Grognier  gives  the  following  account  of  this  dog  as  he  is 
found  in  France : — "  The  shepherd's  dog,  the  least  removed  from  the 
natural  type  of  the  dog,  is  of  a  middle  size  ;  his  ears  short  and  straight ; 
the  hair  long,  principally  on  the  tail,  and  of  a  dark  colour  ;  the  tail  is 
carried  horizontally  or  a  little  elevated.  He  is  very  indifferent  to  ca- 
resses, possessed  of  much  intelligence  and  activity  to  discharge  the  duties 
for  which  he  was  designed.  In  one  or  other  of  its  varieties  it  is  found  in 
every  part  of  France.  Sometimes  there  is  but  a  single  breed,  in  others 
there  are  several  varieties.  It  lives  and  maintains  its  proper  character- 
istics, while  other  races  often  degenerate.  Everywhere  it  preserves  its 
proper  distinguishing  type.  It  is  the  servant  of  man,  while  other  breeds 
vary  with  a  thousand  circumstances.  It  has  one  appropriate  mission,  and 

a  Clarke's  Scandinavia,  vol.  i.  p.  432. 


60 


SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 


that  it  discharges  in  the  most  admirable  way :  there  is  evidently  a  kind 
and  wise  design  in  this." 

This  account  of  the  French  sheep-dog,  or  of  the  sheep-dog  everywhere, 
is  as  true  as  it  is  beautiful.  One  age  succeeds  to  another,  we  pass  from 
one  climate  to  another,  and  everything  varies  and  changes,  but  the  shep- 
herd's dog  is  what  he  ever  was — the  guardian  of  our  flocks.  There  are 
however,  two  or  more  species  of  this  dog;  the  one  which  Professor 
Grognier  has  described,  and  which  guards  and  guides  the  sheep  in  the 
open  and  level  country,  where  wolves  seldom  intrude;  another  crossed 
with  the  mastiff,  or  little  removed  from  that  dog,  used  in  the  woody  and 
mountainous  countries,  their  guard  more  than  their  guide.a  In  Great 
Britain,  where  he  has  principally  to  guide  and  not  to  guard  the  flock,  he  is 


THE    ENGLISH    SHEEP-DOG. 

comparatively  a  small  dog.  He  is  so  in  the  northern  and  open  parts  of 
the  country,  where  activity  is  principally  wanted;  but,  in  the  more  en- 
closed districts,  and  where  strength  is  often  needed  to  turn  an  obstinate 
sheep,  he  is  crossed  with  some  larger  dog,  as  the  rough  terrier,  or  some- 
times the  pointer,  or  now  and  then  the  bull-dog :  in  fact,  almost  any 
variety  that  has  strength  and  stoutness  may  be  employed.  Thus  we  obtain 
the  larger  sheep-dog  and  the  drover's  dbg.  The  sagacity,  forbearance, 
and  kindness  of  the  sheep-dog  are  generally  retained,  but  from  these  crosses 
there  is  occasionally  a  degree  of  ferocity  from  which  the  sheep  often 
suffer. 

In  other  countries,  where  the  flock  is  exposed  to  the  attack  of  the  wolf, 

a  The  migratory  sheep,  in  some  parts  of      guide ;  and  the  intelligence  and  apparent 
the  south  of  France  almost  as  numerous       pride  which  he  displays  are  remarkable, 
as  in  Spain,  are  attended  by  a  goat,  as  a 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  61 

the  sheep-dog  is  larger  than  the  British  drover's  dog,  and  not  far  inferior 
in  size  to  the  mastiff.  The  strength  and  ferocity  which  qualify  him  to 
combat  with  the  wolf,  would  occasionally  be  injurious  or  fatal  to  those 
who  somewhat  obstinately  opposed  his  direction ;  therefore,  in  Denmark 
and  in  Spain,  the  dog  is  rarely  employed  to  drive  the  flock.  It  is  the 
office  of  the  shepherd,  to  know  every  individual  under  his  charge,  to,  as  in 
olden  times,  "  call  them  all  by  their  names,"  and  have  always  some  docile 
and  tamed  wether  who  will  take  the  lead,  almost  as  subservient  to  his 
voice  as  is  the  dog  himself,  and  whom  the  flock  will  immediately  follow. 

In  whatever  other  country  the  dog  is  used,  partly  or  principally  to  pro- 
tect the  flock  from  the  ravages  of  the  wolf,  he  is  as  gentle  as  a  lamb,  ex- 
cept when  opposed  to  his  natural  enemy  ;  and  it  is  only  in  England  that 
the  guardian  of  the  sheep  occasionally  injures  and  worries  them,  and  that 
many  can  be  found  bearing  the  mark  of  the  tooth.  This  may  be  some- 
what excusable  (although  it  is  often  carried  to  a  barbarous  extent)  in  the 
drover's  dog ;  but  it  will  admit  of  no  apology  in  the  shepherd's  dog.  It  is 
the  result  of  the  idleness  of  the  boy,  or  the  mingled  brutality  and  idleness 
of  the  shepherd,  who  is  attempting  to  make  the  dog  do  his  own  work  and 
that  of  his  master  too.  We  have  admired  the  Prussian  sheep-dog  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duty,  and  have  seen  him  pick  out  the  marked  sheep,  or 
stop  and  turn  the  flock,  as  cleverly  as  any  Highland  colley,  but  he  never 
bit  them.  He  is  a  shorter,  stronger,  and  more  compact  dog  than  ours. 
He  pushes  against  them  and  forces  them  along.  If  they  rebel  against  this 
mild  treatment,  the  shepherd  is  at  hand  to  enforce  obedience  ;  and  the 
flock  is  as  easily  and  perfectly  managed  as  any  English  or  Highland  one, 
and  a  great  deal  more  so  than  the  majority  that  we  have  seen. 

Mr.  Trimmer,  in  his  work  on  the  Merinos,  speaking  of  the  Spanish 
flocks,  says :  "  There  is  no  driving  of  the  flock ;  that  is  a  practice  en- 
tirely unknown ;  but  the  shepherd,  when  he  wishes  to  remove  his  sheep, 
calls  to  him  a  tame  wether  accustomed  to  feed  from  his  hands.  The 
favourite,  however  distant,  obeys  his  call,  and  the  rest  follow.  One  or 
more  of  the  dogs,  with  large  collars  armed  with  spikes,  in  order  to  pro- 
tect them  from  the  wolves,  precede  the  flock,  others  skirt  it  on  each  side, 
and  some  bring  up  the  rear.  If  a  sheep  be  ill  or  lame,  or  lag  behind  un- 
observed by  the  shepherds,  they  stay  with  it  and  defend  it  until  some  one 
return  in  search  of  it.  With  us,  dogs  are  too  often  used  for  other  and 
worse  purposes.  In  open,  unenclosed  districts,  they  are  indispensable ;  but 
in  others  I  wish  them,  I  confess,  either  managed,  or  encouraged  less.  If 
a  sheep  commits  a  fault  in  the  sight  of  an  intemperate  shepherd,  or  acci- 
dentally offends  him,  it  is  dogged  into  obedience :  the  signal  is  given,  the 
dog  obeys  the  mandate,  and  the  poor  sheep  flies  round  the  field  to  escape 
from  the  fangs  of  him  who  should  be  his  protector,  until  it  becomes  half 
dead  with  fright  and  exhaustion,  while  the  trembling  flock  crowd  together 
dreading  the  same  fate,  and  the  churl  exults  in  this  cowardly  victory  over 
a  weak  and  defenceless  animal."  a 

If  the  farmer  will  seriously  calculate  the  number  of  ewes  that  have 
yeaned  before  their  time,  and  of  the  lambs  that  he  has  lost,  and  the 
accidents  that  have  occurred  from  the  sheep  pressing  upon  one  another  in 
order  to  escape  from  the  dog,  and  if  he  will  also  take  into  account  the 
continual  disturbance  of  the  sheep  while  grazing,  by  the  approach  of 

a  Trimmer  on  the  Merinos,  p,  50.     See  also  the  Society's  work  on  Sheep. 


62  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

the  dog,  and  the  consequent  interference  with  the  cropping  and  the  diges- 
tion of  the  food,  he  will  attach  more  importance  to  the  good  temper  of 
the  dog  and  of  the  shepherd  than  he  has  been  accustomed  to  do.  There 
would  be  no  injustice,  or  rather  a  great  deal  of  propriety,  in  inflicting  a 
fine  for  every  tooth-mark  that  could  be  detected.  When  the  sheep,  in- 
stead of  collecting  round  the  dog,  and  placing  themselves  under  his  pro- 
tection on  any  sudden  alarm,  uniformly  fly  from  him  with  terror,  the  farmer 
may  be  assured  there  is  something  radically  wrong  in  the  management  of 
the  flock. 

Instinct  and  education  combine  to  fit  this  dog  for  our  service.  The 
pointer  will  act  without  any  great  degree  of  instruction,  and  the  setter 
will  crouch ;  and  most  certainly  the  sheep-dog,  and  especially  if  he  has 
the  example  of  an  older  and  expert  one,  will,  almost  without  the  teaching 
of  the  master,  become  everything  that  can  be  wished,  obedient  to  every 
order,  even  to  the  slightest  motion  of  the  hand.  There  is  a  natural  pre- 
disposition for  the  office  he  has  to  discharge,  which  it  requires  little 
trouble  or  skill  to  develop  and  perfect. 

It  is  no  unpleasing  employment  to  study  the  degree  in  which  the  several 
breeds  of  dogs  are  not  only  highly  intelligent,  but  fitted  by  nature  for  the 
particular  duty  they  have  to  perform.  The  pointer,  the  setter,  the  hound, 
the  greyhound,  the  terrier,  the  spaniel,  and  even  the  bull-dog,  were  made, 
and  almost  perfected,  by  nature  chiefly  for  one  office  alone,  although  they 
may  be  useful  in  many  other  ways.  This  is  well  illustrated  in  the  sheep- 
dog. If  he  be  but  with  his  master,  he  lies  content,  indifferent  to  every 
surrounding  object,  seemingly  half  asleep  and  half  awake,  rarely  mingling 
with  his  kind,  rarely  courting,  and  generally  shrinking  from,  the  notice 
of  a  stranger ;  but  the  moment  duty  calls,  his  sleepy,  listless  eye  becomes 
brightened  ;  he  eagerly  gazes  on  his  master,  inquires  and  comprehends  all 
he  is  to  do,  and,  springing  up,  gives  himself  to  the  discharge  of  his  duty 
with  a  sagacity,  and  fidelity,  and  devotion,  too  rarely  equalled  even  by 
man  himself. 

Mr.  James  Hogg,  the  Ettrick  Shepherd,  living  in  his  early  days 
among  the  sheep  and  their  quadruped  attendants,  and  an  accurate  observer 
of  nature,  as  well  as  an  exquisite  poet,  gives  some  anecdotes  of  the  colley, 
(the  Highland  term  for  sheep-dog,)  with  which  the  reader  will  not  be 
displeased.  "  My  dog  Sirrah,"  says  he,  in  a  letter  to  the  Editor  of  Black- 
wood's  Edinburgh  Magazine,  "  was,  beyond  all  comparison,  the  best  dog 
I  ever  saw.  He  had  a  somewhat  surly  and  unsocial  temper,  disdaining 
all  flattery,  and  refusing  to  be  caressed  ;  but  his  attention  to  my  commands 
and  interest  will  never  again  be  equalled  by  any  of  the  canine  race.  When 
I  first  saw  him,  a  drover  was  leading  him  with  a  rope.  He  was  both  lean 
and  hungry,  and  far  from  being  a  beautiful  animal ;  for  he  was  almost 
black,  and  had  a  grim  face,  striped  with  dark  brown.  I  thought  I  per- 
ceived a  sort  of  sullen  intelligence  in  his  countenance,  notwithstanding  his 
dejected  and  forlorn  appearance,  and  I  bought  him.  He  was  scarcely  a 
year  old,  and  knew  so  little  of  herding  that  he  had  never  turned  a  sheep 
in  his  life  ;  but,  as  soon  as  he  discovered  that  it  was  his  duty  to  do  so,  and 
that  it  obliged  me,  I  can  never  forget  with  what  anxiety  and  eagerness  he 
learned  his  different  evolutions,  and  when  I  once  made  him  understand  a 
direction  he  never  forgot  or  mistook  it." 

On  one  night,  a  large  flock  of  lambs  that  were  under  the  Ettrick  Shep- 
herd's care,  frightened  by  something,  scampered  away  in  three  different 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG. 


63 


directions  across  the  hills,  in  spite  of  all  that  he  could  do  to  keep  them 
together.     u  Sirrah,"  said  the  shepherd,  "  they're  a'  awa  !" 

It  was  too  dark  for  the  dog  and  his  master  to  see  each  other  at  any  con- 
siderable distance,  but  Sirrah  understood  him,  and  set  off  after  the  fugi- 
tives. The  night  passed  on,  and  Hogg  and  his  assistant  traversed  every 
neighbouring  hill  in  anxious  but  fruitless  search  for  the  lambs ;  but  he 
could  hear  nothing  of  them  nor  of  the  dog,  and  he  was  returning  to  his 
master  with  the  doleful  intelligence  that  he  had  lost  all  his  lambs.  "  On  our 
way  home,  however,"  says  he,  "  we  discovered  a  lot  of  lambs  at  the  bottom 
of  a  deep  ravine  called  the  Flesh  Cleuch,  and  the  indefatigable  Sirrah 
standing  in  front  of  them,  looking  round  for  some  relief,  but  still  true  to 
his  charge.  We  concluded  that  it  was  one  of  the  divisions  which  Sirrah 
had  been  unable  to  manage,  until  he  came  to  that  commanding  situation. 
But  what  was  our  astonishment  when  we  discovered  that  not  one  lamb  of 
the  flock  was  missing !  How  he  had  got  all  the  divisions  collected  in  the 
dark,  is  beyond  my  comprehension.  The  charge  was  left  entirely  to  him- 
self from  midnight  until  the  rising  sun ;  and,  if  all  the  shepherds  in  the 
forest  had  been  there  to  have  assisted  him,  they  could  not  have  effected 
it  with  greater  promptitude.  All  that  I  can  say  is,  that  I  never  felt  so 
grateful  to  any  creature  under  the  sun  as  I  did  to  my  honest  Sirrah  that 
morning." 


THE    SCOTCH    SHEEP-DOG. 


A  shepherd,  in  one  of  his  excursions  over  the  Grampian  Hills  to  collect 
his  scattered  flock,  took  with  him  (as  is  a  frequent  practice,  to  initiate 
them  in  their  future  business)  one  of  his  children  about  four  years  old. 


64  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

After  traversing  his  pastures  for  a  while,  attended  by  his  dog,  he  was 
compelled  to  ascend  a  summit  at  some  distance.  As  the  ascent  was  too 
great  for  the  child,  he  left  him  at  the  bottom,  with  strict  injunctions 
not  to  move  from  the  place.  Scarcely,  however,  had  he  gained  the 
height,  when  one  of  the  Scotch  mists,  of  frequent  occurrence,  suddenly 
came  on,  and  almost  changed  the  day  to  night.  He  returned  to  seek 
his  child,  but  was  unable  to  find  him,  and  concluded  a  long  and  fruitless 
search  by  coming  distracted  to  his  cottage.  His  poor  dog  also  was 
missing  in  the  general  confusion.  On  the  next  morning  by  daylight 
he  renewed  his  search,  but  again  he  came  back  without  his  "child. 
He  found,  however,  that  during  his  absence  his  dog  had  been  home, 
and,  on  receiving  his  allowance  of  food,  instantly  departed.  For  four 
successive  days  the  shepherd  continued  his  search  with  the  same  bad 
fortune,  the  dog  as  readily  coming  for  his  meal  and  departing.  Struck 
by  this  singular  circumstance,  he  determined  to  follow  the  dog,  who  de- 
parted as  usual  with  his  piece  of  cake.  The  animal  led  the  way  to  a  ca- 
taract at  some  distance  from  the  spot  where  the  child  had  been  left.  It 
was  a  rugged  and  almost  perpendicular  descent  which  the  dog  took,  and 
he  disappeared  in  a  cave,  the  mouth  of  which  was  almost  on  a  level  with 
the  torrent.  The  shepherd  with  difficulty  followed  ;  but,  on  entering  the 
cavern,  what  were  his  emotions  when  he  beheld  the  infant  eating  the  cake 
which  the  dog  had  just  brought  to  him,  while  the  faithful  animal  stood 
by,  eyeing  his  young  charge  with  the  utmost  complacency.  From  the 
situation  in  which  the  child  was  found,  it  appeared  that  he  had  wandered 
to  the  brink  of  the  precipice,  and  then  either  fallen  or  scrambled  down, 
the  torrent  preventing  his  re-ascent.  The  dog  by  means  of  his  scent  had 
traced  him  to  the  spot,  and  afterwards  prevented  him  from  starving  by 
giving  up  a  part,  or,  perhaps,  the  whole  of  his  own  daily  allowance.  He 
appears  never  to  have  quitted  the  child  night  or  day,  except  for  food,  as 
he  was  seen  running  at  full  speed  to  and  from  the  cottage.a 

Mr.  Hogg  says,  and  very  truly,  that  a  single  shepherd  and  his  dog  will 
accomplish  more  in  gathering  a  flock  of  sheep  from  a  Highland  farm  than 
twenty  shepherds  could  do  without  dogs  ;  in  fact,  that  without  this  docile 
animal,  the  pastoral  life  would  be  a  mere  blank.  It  would  require  more 
hands  to  manage  a  flock  of  sheep,  gather  them  from  the  hills,  force  them 
into  houses  and  folds,  and  drive  them  to  markets,  than  the  profits  of  the 
whole  flock  would  be  capable  of  maintaining.  Well  may  the  shepherd 
feel  an  interest  in  his  dog ;  he  it  is  indeed  that  earns  the  family  bread,  of 
which  he  is  himself  content  with  the  smallest  morsel :  always  grateful, 
and  always  ready  to  exert  his  utmost  abilities  in  his  master's  interests. 
Neither  hunger,  fatigue,  nor  the  worst  of  treatment  will  drive  him  from 
his  side,  and  he  will  follow  him  through  every  hardship  without  murmur 
or  repining.  If  one  of  them  is  obliged  to  change  masters,  it  is  sometimes 
long  before  he  will  acknowledge  the  new  owner,  or  condescend  to  work 
for  him  with  the  willingness  that  he  did  for  his  former  lord ;  but,  if  he 
once  acknowledges  him,  he  continues  attached  to  him  until  death. b 

We  will  add  another  story  of  the  colley,  and  proceed.  It  illustrates 
the  memory  of  the  dog.  A  shepherd  was  employed  in  bringing  up  some 

a  Annals  of  Sporting,  vol.  viii.  p.  83.  superhuman  fidelity  of  this  dog  crowd  so 

b  "  The  Ettrick  Shepherd  has  probably  rapidly  upon  us  that  we  are  compelled  to 

spoken  some  what  too  enthusiastically  of  his  admire  and  to  love  him." — Hogg's  Shep- 

dog;  but  accounts  of  the  sagacity  and  almost  herd's  Calendar,  vol.  ii.  p.  308. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  65 

mountain  sheep  from  Westmoreland,  and  took  with  him  a  young  sheep- 
dog who  had  never  made  the  journey  before.  From  his  assistant  being 
ignorant  of  the  ground,  he  experienced  great  difficulty  in  having  the  flock 
stopped  at  the  various  roads  and  lanes  he  passed  in  their  way  to  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  London. 

In  the  next  year  the  same  shepherd,  accompanied  by  the  same  dog, 
brought  up  another  flock  for  the  gentleman  who  had  had  the  former  one. 
On  being  questioned  how  he  had  got  on,  he  said  much  better  than  the 
year  before,  as  his  dog  now  knew  the  road,  and  had  kept  the  sheep  from 
going  up  any  of  the  lanes  or  turnings  that  had  given  the  shepherd  so  much 
trouble  on  his  former  journey.  The  distance  could  not  have  been  less 
than  400  miles.a 

Buffon  gives  an  eloquent  and  faithful  account  of  the  sheep-dog : — "  This 
animal,  faithful  to  man,  will  always  preserve  a  portion  of  his  empire  and 
a  degree  of  superiority  over  other  beings.  He  reigns  at  the  head  of  his 
flock,  and  makes  himself  better  understood  than  the  voice  of  the  shepherd. 
Safety,  order,  and  discipline  are  the  fruits  of  his  vigilance  and  activity. 
They  are  a  people  submitted  to  his  management,  whom  he  conducts  and 
protects,  and  against  whom  he  never  employs  force  but  for  the  preservation 
of  good  order."  "  If  we  consider  that  this  animal,  notwithstanding  his 
ugliness  and  his  wild  and  melancholy  look,  is  superior  in  instinct  to  all 
others ;  that  he  has  a  decided  character  in  which  education  has  compara- 
tively little  share  ;  that  he  is  the  only  animal  born  perfectly  trained  for 
the  service  of  others ;  that,  guided  by  natural  powers  alone,  he  applies 
himself  to  the  care  of  our  flocks,  a  duty  which  he  executes  with  singular 
assiduity,  vigilance,  and  fidelity ;  that  he  conducts  them  with  an  admirable 
intelligence  which  is  a  part  and  portion  of  himself;  that  his  sagacity  asto- 
nishes at  the  same  time  that  it  gives  repose  to  his  master,  while  it  requires 
great  time  and  trouble  to  instruct  other  dogs  for  the  purposes  to  which 
they  are  destined :  if  we  reflect  on  these  facts  we  shall  be  confirmed  in  the 
opinion  that  the  shepherd's  dog  is  the  true  dog  of  nature,  the  stock  and 
model  of  the  whole  species."  b 

THE  DROVER'S  Doa 

bears  considerable  resemblance  to  the  sheep-dog,  and  has  usually  the 
same  prevailing  black  or  brown  colour.  He  possesses  all  the  docility 
of  the  sheep-dog,  with  more  courage,  and  sometimes  a  degree  of  ferocity, 
exercised  without  just  cause  upon  his  charge,  while  he  is  in  his  turn  cruelly 
used  by  a  brutal  master. 

There  is  a  valuable  cross  between  the  colley  and  the  drover's  dog  in 
Westmoreland,  and  a  larger  and  stronger  breed  is  cultivated  in  Lincoln- 
shire ;  indeed  it  is  necessary  there,  where  oxen  as  well  as  sheep  are  usually 
consigned  to  the  dog's  care.  A  good  drover's  dog  is  worth  a  considerable 
sum  ;  but  the  breed  is  too  frequently  and  injudiciously  crossed  at  the  fancy 
of  the  owner.  Some  drovers'  dogs  are  as  much  like  setters,  lurchers,  and 
hounds,  as  they  are  to  the  original  breed. 

Stories  are  told  of  the  docility  and  sagacity  of  the  drover's  dog  even 
more  surprising  than  any  that  are  related  of  the  sheep-dog.  The  Ettrick 
Shepherd  says,  that  a  Mr.  Steel,  butcher  in  Peebles,  had  such  implicit 
dependence  on  the  attention  of  his  dog  to  his  orders,  that  whenever  he  put 

a  Jesse's  Gleanings,  vol.  i.  p.  93.  b  Buffon's  Natural  History,  vol.  v.  p.  314. 

F 


66  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

* 

a  lot  of  sheep  before  her,  he  took  a  pride  in  leaving  them  entirely  to  her, 
and  either  remained  to  take  a  glass  with  the  farmer  of  whom  he  had  made 
the  purchase,  or  travelled  another  road  to  look  after  bargains  or  business. 
At  one  time,  however,  he  chanced  to  commit  a  drove  to  her  charge,  at 
a  place  called  Willenslee,  without  attending  to  her  condition,  which  he 
certainly  ought  to  have  done.  This  farm  is  about  five  miles  from  Peebles, 
over  wild  hills,  and  there  is  no  regularly  defined  path  to  it.  Whether 
Mr.  Steel  chose  another  road  is  uncertain  ;  but,  on  coming  home  late  in  the 
evening,  he  was  surprised  to  hear  that  his  faithful  animal  had  not  made  her 
appearance  with  her  flock.  He  and  his  son  instantly  prepared  to  set  out 
by  different  paths  in  search  of  her ;  but,  on  going  into  the  street,  there 
was  she  with  the  flock,  and  not  one  of  the  sheep  missing ;  she,  however, 
was  carrying  a  young  pup  in  her  mouth.  She  had  been  taken  in  travail 
on  those  hills ;  and  how  the  poor  beast  had  contrived  to  manage  the  sheep 
in  her  state  of  suffering  is  beyond  human  calculation,  for  her  road  lay 
through  sheep-pastures  the  whole  way.  Her  master's  heart  smote  him 
when  he  saw  what  she  had  suffered  and  effected ;  but  she  was  nothing 
daunted ;  and,  having  deposited  her  young  one  in  a  place  of  safety,  she 
again  set  out  at  full  speed  to  the  hills,  and  brought  another  and  another 
little  one,  until  she  had  removed  her  whole  litter  one  by  one :  the  last, 
however,  was  dead. 

Mr.  Elaine  relates  as  extraordinary  an  instance  of  intelligence,  but  not 
mingled,  like  the  former,  with  natural  affection.  A  butcher  and  cattle- 
dealer,  who  resided  about  nine  miles  from  Alston,  in  Cumberland,  bought 
a  dog  of  a  drover.  The  butcher  was  accustomed  to  purchase  sheep  and 
kine  in  the  vicinity,  which,  when  fattened,  he  drove  to  Alston  market  and 
sold.  In  these  excursions  he  was  frequently  astonished  at  the  peculiar 
sagacity  of  his  dog,  and  at  the  more  than  common  readiness  and  dexterity 
with  which  he  managed  the  cattle ;  until  at  length  he  troubled  himself 
very  little  about  the  matter,  but,  riding  carelessly  along,  used  to  amuse 
himself  with  observing  how  adroitly  the  dog  acquitted  himself  of  his 
charge.  At  length,  so  convinced  was  he  of  his  sagacity,  as  well  as  fidelity, 
that  he  laid  a  wager  that  he  would  intrust  the  dog  with  a  number  of 
sheep  and  oxen,  and  let  him  drive  them  alone  and  unattended  to  Alston 
market.  It  was  stipulated  that  no  one  should  be  within  sight  or  hearing 
who  had  the  least  control  over  the  dog,  nor  was  any  spectator  to  interfere. 
This  extraordinary  animal,  however,  proceeded  with  his  business  in  the 
most  steady  and  dexterous  manner ;  and,  although  he  had  frequently  to 
drive  his  charge  through  other  herds  that  were  grazing,  he  did  not  lose 
one ;  but,  conducting  them  to  the  very  yard  to  which  he  was  used  to  drive 
them  when  with  his  master,  he  significantly  delivered  them  up  to  the  per- 
son appointed  to  receive  them  by  barking  at  his  door.  When  the  path 
which  he  travelled  lay  through  grounds  in  which  others  were  grazing,  he 
would  run  forward,  stop  his  own  drove,  and  then,  chasing  the  others  away, 
collect  his  scattered  charge,  and  proceed. 

THE  ITALIAN  OR  POMERANIAN  WOLF-DOG. 

The  wolf-dog  is  no  longer  a  native  of  Great  Britain,  because  his  ser- 
vices are  not  required  there,  but  he  is  useful  in  various  parts  of  the  Con- 
tinent, in  the  protection  of  the  sheep  from  the  attacks  of  the  wolf.  A  pair 
of  these  dogs  was  brought  to  the  Zoological  Society  of  London  in  1833, 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  67 

and  there  long  remained,  an  ornament  to  the  Gardens,  They  appeared  to 
possess  a  considerable  degree  of  strength,  but  to  be  too  gentle  to  contend 
with  so  powerful  and  ferocious  an  animal  as  the  wolf.  They  were  mostly 
covered  with  white  or  gray,  or  occasionally  black  hair,  short  on  the  head, 
ears,  and  feet,  but  long  and  silky  on  the  body  and  tail.  The  forehead  is 
elevated,  and  the  muzzle  lengthened  and  clothed  with  short  hair.  The 
attachment  of  this  dog  to  his  master  and  the  flock  is  very  great,  and  he  has 
not  lost  a  particle  of  his  sagacity,  but,  where  wolves  are. common,  is  still 
used  as  a  sheep-dog. 

THE  CUR 

is  the  sheep-dog  crossed  with  the  terrier.  He  has  long  and  somewhat 
deservedly  obtained  a  very  bad  name,  as  a  bully  and  a  coward  ;  and  cer- 
tainly his  habit  of  barking  at  everything  that  passes,  and  flying  at  the 
heels  of  the  horse,  renders  him  often  a  very  dangerous  nuisance :  he  is, 
however,  in  a  manner  necessary  to  the  cottager ;  he  is  a  faithful  defender 
of  his  humble  dwelling  ;  no  bribe  can  seduce  him  from  his  duty  ;  and  he 
is  likewise  a  useful  and  an  effectual  guard  over  the  clothes  and  scanty  pro- 
visions of  the  labourer,  who  may  be  working  in  some  distant  part  of  the 
field.  All  day  long  he  will  lie  upon  his  master's  clothes  seemingly  asleep, 
but  giving  immediate  warning  of  the  approach  of  a  supposed  marauder. 
He  has  a  propensity,  when  at  home,  to  fly  at  every  horse  and  every 
strange  dog;  and  of  young  game  of  every  kind  there  is  not  a  more  ruthless 
destroyer  than  the  village  cur. 

Mr.  Hogg  draws  the  following  curious  parallel  between  the  sheep-dog 
and  the  cur: — "  An  exceedingly  good  sheep-dog  attends  to  nothing  but 
the  particular  branch  of  business  to  which  he  is  bred.  His  whole  capa- 
city is  exerted  and  exhausted  in  it ;  and  he  is  of  little  avail  in  miscella- 
neous matters ;  whereas  a  very  indifferent  cur  bred  about  the  house,  and 
accustomed  to  assist  in  everything,  will  often  put  the  more  noble  breed  to 
disgrace  in  these  little  services.  If  some  one  calls  out  that  the  cows  are 
in  the  corn  or  the  hens  in  the  garden,  the  house  colley  needs  no  other 
hint,  but  runs  and  turns  them  out.  The  shepherd's  dog  knows  not  what 
is  astir,  and,  if  he  is  called  out  in  a  hurry  for  such  work,  all  that  he  will 
do  is  to  run  to  the  hill,  or  rear  himself  on  his  haunches  to  see  that  no 
sheep  are  running  away.  A  well-bred  sheep-dog,  if  coming  hungry  from 
the  hills,  and  getting  into  a  milk-house,  would  likely  think  of  nothing 
else  than  filling  his  belly  with  the  cream.  Not  so  his  initiated  brother : 
he  is  bred  at  home  to  far  higher  principles  of  honour.  I  have  known 
such  lie  night  and  day  among  from  ten  to  twenty  pails  full  of  milk,  and 
never  once  break  the  cream  of  one  of  them  with  the  tip  of  his  tongue, 
nor  would  he  suffer  cat,  rat,  or  any  other  creature  to  touch  it.  While 
therefore,  the  cur  is  a  nuisance,  he  is  very  useful  in  his  way,  and  we  would 
further  plead  for  him,  that  he  possesses  a  great  deal  of  the  sagacity  and 
all  the  fidelity  of  the  choicest  breed  of  dogs." 

The  dog  who,  according  to  the  well-known  and  authentic  story,  watched 
the  remains  of  his  master  for  two  years  in  the  churchyard  of  St.  Olave's, 
in  South wark,  was  a  cur. 

The  following  story  is  strictly  authentic  : — "  Not  long  ago  a  young  man, 
an  acquaintance  of  the  coachman,  was  walking,  as  he  had  often  done,  in 
Lord  Fife's  stables  at  Banff.  Taking  an  opportunity,  when  the  servants 
were  not  regarding  him,  he  put  a  bridle  into  his  pocket.  A  Highland 

F  2 


68  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

cur  that  was  generally  about  the  stables  saw  him,  and  immediately  began 
to  bark  at  him,  and  when  he  got  to  the  stable-door  would  not  let  him  pass, 
but  bit  him  by  the  leg  in  order  to  prevent  him.  As  the  servants  had  never 
seen  the  dog  act  thus  before,  and  the  same  young  man  had  been  often 
with  them,  they  could  not  imagine  what  could  be  the  reason  of  the  dog's 
conduct.  However,  when  they  saw  the  end  of  u  valuable  bridle  peeping 
out  of  the  young  man's  pocket,  they  were  able  to  account  for  it,  and,  on  his 
giving  it  up,  the  dog  left  the  stable-door,  where  he  had  stood,  and  allowed 
him  to  pass." a 

THE  LURCHER. 

This  dog  was  originally  a  cross  between  the  greyhound  and  the  shep- 
herd's dog,  retaining  all  the  speed  and  fondness  for  the  chace  belonging 
to  the  one,  and  the  superior  intelligence  and  readiness  for  any  kind  of 
work  which  the  latter  possessed.  This  breed  has  been  crossed  again  with 
the  spaniel,  combining  the  disposition  to  quest  for  game  which  distin- 
guishes the  spaniel  with  the  muteness  and  swiftness  of  the  greyhound. 
Sometimes  the  greyhound  is  crossed  with  the  hound.  Whatever  be  the 
cross,  the  greyhound  must  predominate  ;  but  his  form,  although  still  to  be 
traced,  has  lost  all  its  beauty. 

The  lurcher  is  a  dog  seldom  found  in  the  possession  of  the  honourable 
sportsman.  The  farmer  may  breed  him  for  his  general  usefulness,  for 
driving  his  cattle,  and  guarding  his  premises,  and  occasionally  coursing 
the  hare ;  but  other  dogs  will  answer  the  former  purposes  much  better, 
while  the  latter  qualification  may  render  him  suspected  by  his  landlord, 
and  sometimes  be  productive  of  serious  injury.  In  a  rabbit-warren  this 
dog  is  peculiarly  destructive.  His  scent  enables  him  to  follow  them 
silently  and  swiftly.  He  darts  unexpectedly  upon  them,  and,  being 
trained  to  bring  his  prey  to  his  master,  one  of  these  dogs  will  often  in 
one  night  supply  the  poacher  with  rabbits  and  other  game  worth  more 
money  than  he  could  earn  by  two  days'  hard  labour. 

Mr.  H.  Faull,  of  Helstone,  in  Cornwall,  lost  no  fewer  than  fifteen  fine 
sheep,  and  some  of  them  store  sheep,  killed  by  lurchers  in  January,  1824.b 

We  now  proceed  to  the  different  species  of  dog  belonging  to  the  second 
division  of  Cuvier,  which  are  classed  under  the  name  of  Hound ;  and,  first 
we  take 

THE  BEAGLE. 

The  origin  of  this  diminutive  hound  is  somewhat  obscure.  There  is 
evidently  much  of  the  harrier  and  of  the  old  southern,  connected  with  a 
considerable  decrease  of  size  and  speed,  the  possession  of  an  exceedingly 
musical  voice,  and  very  great  power  of  scent.  Beagles  are  rarely  more 
than  ten  or  twelve  inches  in  height,  and  were  generally  so  nearly  of  the 
same  size  and  power  of  speed,  that  it  was  commonly  said  they  might  be 
covered  with  a  sheet.  This  close  running  is,  however,  considered  as  a 
mark  of  excellence  in  hounds  of  every  kind. 

There  are  many  pleasurable  recollections  of  the  period  when  "  the  good 
old  English  gentleman  "  used  to  keep  his  pack  of  beagles  or  little  harriers, 
slow  but  sure,  occasionally  carried  to  the  field  in  a  pair  of  panniers  on  a 

a  Travels  in  Scotland,  by  the  Rev.  J.  Hall,  vol.  ii.  p.  395. 
b  Annals  of  Sporting,  vol.  v.  p.  137. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  69 

horse's  back ;  often  an  object  of  ridicule  at  an  early  period  of  the  chace, 
but  rarely  failing  to  accomplish  their  object  ere  the  day  closed,  "the 
puzzling-  pack  unravelling  wile  by  wile,  maze  within  maze."  It  was 
often  the  work  of  two  or  three  hours  to  accomplish  this ;  but  it  was  seldom, 
in  spite  of  her  speed,  her  shifts,  and  her  doublings,  that  the  hare  did  not 
fall  a  victim  to  her  pursuers. 

The  slowness  of  their  pace  gradually  caused  them  to  be  almost  totally 
discontinued,  until  very  lately,  and  especially  in  the  royal  park  at  Wind- 
sor, they  have  been  again  introduced.  Generally  speaking,  they  have  all 
the  strength  and  endurance  which  is  necessary  to  ensure  their  killing  their 
game,  and  are  much  fleeter  than  their  diminutive  size  would  indicate. 
Formerly,  considerable  fancy  and  even  judgment  used  to  be  exercised  in 
the  breeding  of  these  dogs.  They  were  curiously  distinguished  by  the 
names  of  "  deep-flewed,"  or  "  shallow-flewed,"  in  proportion  as  they  had 
the  depending  upper  lip  of  the  southern,  or  the  sharper  muzzle  and  more 
contracted  lip  of  the  northern  dogs.  The  shallow-flewed  were  the  swiftest, 
and  the  deep-flewed  the  stoutest  and  the  surest,  and  their  music  the  most 
pleasant.  The  wire-haired  beagle  was  considered  as  the  stouter  and 
better  dog. 


THE    BEAGLE. 

The  form  of  the  head  in  beagles  has  been  much  misunderstood.  They 
have,  or  should  have,  large  heads,  decidedly  round,  and  thick  rather  than 
long  ;  there  will  then  be  room  for  the  expansion  of  the  nasal  membrane 
—that  of  smell — and  for  the  reverberation  of  the  sound,  so  peculiarly 
pleasant  in  this  dog. 

The  beagle  runs  very  low  to  the  ground,  and  therefore  has  a  stronger 
impression  of  the  scent  than  taller  dogs.  This  is  especially  the  case  when 
the  scent  is  more  than  usually  low. 

Among  the  advocates  for  beagles,  several  years  ago,  was  Colonel  Hardy. 
He  used  to  send  his  dogs  in  panniers,  and  they  had  a  little  barn  for  their 


70  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

kennel.  The  door  was  one  night  broken  open,  and  every  hound,  panniers 
and  all,  stolen.  The  thief  was  never  discovered,  nor  even  suspected. 

The  use  of  beagles  was  soon  afterwards  nearly  abandoned  by  the  intro- 
duction of  the  harrier,  and  by  his  yielding  in  his  turn  to  the  fox-hound  ; 
but  the  beagles  of  Colonel  Thornton  and  Colonel  Molyneux  will  not  be 
soon  forgotten. a 

There  is,  however,  a  practice  which  fair  sportsmen  will  never  resort  to 
— the  use  of  a  beagle  to  start  a  hare  in  order  to  be  run  down  by  a  brace 
of  greyhounds,  or  perhaps  by  a  lurcher.  The  hare  is  not  fairly  matched 
in  this  way  of  proceeding. 

THE  HARRIER 

occupies  an  intermediate  station  between  the  beagle  and  the  fox-hound. 
It  is  the  fox-hound  bred  down  to  a  diminished  size,  and  suited  to  the  animal 
he  is  to  pursue.  He  retains,  or  did  for  a  while  retain,  the  long  body, 
deep  chest,  large  bones,  somewhat  heavy  head,  sweeping  ears,  and  mellow 
voice,  which  the  sportsman  of  old  so  enthusiastically  described,  with  the 
certainty  of  killing,  and  the  pleasing  prolongation  of  the  chace.  With 
this  the  farmer  used  to  be  content :  it  did  not  require  expensive  cattle, 
was  not  attended  with  much  hazard  of  neck,  and  did  not  take  him  far 
from  home. 

Almost  every  country  squire  used  in  former  days  to  keep  his  little  pack 
of  harriers  or  beagles.  He  was  mounted  on  his  stout  cob-horse,  that 
served  him  alike  for  the  road  and  the  chace ;  and  his  huntsman  probably 
had  a  still  smaller  and  rougher  beast,  or  sometimes  ran  afoot.  He  could 
then  follow  the  sport,  almost  without  going  off  his  own  land,  and  the 
farmer's  boys,  knowing  the  country  and  the  usual  doublings  of  the  hare, 
could  see  the  greater  part  of  the  chace,  and  were  almost  able  to  keep  up 
with  the  hounds,  so  that  they  were  rarely  absent  at  the  death :  indeed, 
they  saw  and  enjoyed  far  more  of  it  than  the  fox-hunter  or  the  stag-hunter 
now  does,  mounted  on  his  fleetest  horse. 

The  harrier  was  not  more  than  18  or  19  inches  high.  He  was  crossed 
with  the  fox-hound  if  he  was  getting  too  diminutive,  or  with  the  beagle 
if  he  was  becoming  too  tall. 

The  principal  objects  the  sportsman  endeavoured  to  accomplish  were  to 
preserve  stoutness,  scent,  and  musical  voice,  with  speed  to  follow  the  hare 
sufficiently  close,  yet  not  enough  to  run  her  down  too  quickly,  or  without 
some  of  those  perplexities,  and  faults,  and  uncertainties  which  give  the 
principal  zest  to  the  chace. 

The  character  and  speed  of  the  hound  much  depend  on  the  nature  of 
the  country.  The  smaller  harrier  will  best  suit  a  deeply  enclosed  country  ; 
but  where  there  is  little  cover,  and  less  doubling,  greater  size  and  fleet- 
ness  are  requisite.  The  harrier,  nevertheless,  let  him  be  as  tall  and  as 

a  Mr.  Beckford  at  one  time  determined  kennel  for  several  weeks  before.     They 

to  try  how  he  should  like  the  use  of  bea-  were  consequently  so  riotous  that  they  ran 

gles,  and,  having  heard  of  a  small  pack  of  after  everything  they  saw,  sheep,  cur  dogs, 

them,  he  sent  his  coachman,  the  person  he  birds  of  all  sorts,  as  well  as  hares  and  deer, 

could  best  spare,  to  fetch  them.     It  was  a  However,  he  lost  but  one  hound ;  and,  when 

long  journey,  and,  although  he  had  some  Mr.  Beckford  asked  him  what  he  thought 

assistance,  yet  not  being  used  to  hounds,  of  them,  he  said,  that  they  could  not  fail  of 

he  had  some  trouble  in  getting  them  along,  being  good  hounds,  for  they  would  hunt 

especially  as  they  had  not  been  out  of  the  everything. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG. 


71 


speedy  as  he  may,  should  never  be  used  for  the  fox  ;  but  every  dog  should 
be  strictly  confined  to  his  own  game. 

Mr.  Beckford,  in  his  Thoughts  upon  Hunting,  gives  an  account, 
unrivalled,  of  the  chace  of  the  hare  and  fox.  Many  sporting  writers  have 
endeavoured  to  tread  in  his  steps ;  but  they  have  failed  in  giving  that 
graphic  account  of  the  pleasures  of  the  field  which  Mr.  Beckford's  essay 
contains. 

He  says  that  the  sportsman  should  never  have  more  than  20  couple 
in  the  field,  because  it  would  be  exceedingly  difficult  to  get  a  greater 
number  to  run  together,  and  a  pack  of  harriers  cannot  be  complete  if  they 
do  not.  A  hound  that  runs  too  fast  for  the  rest,  or  that  lags  behind  them, 
should  be  immediately  discarded.  His  hounds  were  between  the  large 
slow-hunting  harrier  and  the  fox-beagle.  He  endeavoured  to  get  as 
much  bone  and  strength  in  as  little  compass  as  possible.  He  acknow- 
ledges that  this  was  a  difficult  undertaking ;  but  he  had,  at  last,  the 
pleasure  to  see  them  handsome,  small,  yet  bony,  running  well  together, 
and  fast  enough,  with  all  the  alacrity  that  could  be  desired,  and  hunting 
the  coldest  scent. 


THE    HARRIEK. 


He  anticipates  the  present  improvement  of  the  chace  when  he  lays  it 
down  as  a  rule  never  to  be  departed  from,  that  hounds  of  every  kind 
should  be  kept  to  their  own  game.  They  should  have  one  scent,  and  one 
style  of  hunting.  Harriers  will  run  a  fox  in  so  different  a  style  from  the 
pursuit  of  a  hare,  that  they  will  not  readily,  and  often  will  not  at  all, 


72  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

return  to  their  proper  work.  The  difference  in  the  scent,  and  the  eager- 
ness of  pursuit,  and  the  noise  that  accompanies  fox-hunting  all  contribute 
to  spoil  a  harrier. 

Mr.  Beckford  pleasingly  expresses  a  sportsman's  consideration  for  the 
poor  animal  which  he  is  hunting  to  death.  "  A  hare,"  he  says,  "  is  a 
timorous  little  animal  that  we  cannot  help  feeling  some  compassion  for 
at  the  time  that  we  are  pursuing  her  destruction.  We  should  give  scope 
to  all  her  little  tricks,  nor  kill  her  foully  nor  overmatched.  Instinct 
instructs  her  to  make  a  good  defence  when  not  unfairly  treated,  and  I 
will  venture  to  say  that,  as  far  as  her  own  safety  is  concerned,  she  has 
more  cunning  than  the  fox,  and  makes  shifts  to  save  her  life  far  beyond 
all  his  artifice."  a 

THE  FOX-HOUND 

is  of  a  middle  size,  between  the  harrier  and  the  stag-hound ;  it  is  the  old 
English  hound,  sufficiently  crossed  with  the  greyhound  to  give  him  light- 
ness and  speed  without  impairing  his  scent ;  and  he  has  now  been  bred 
to  a  degree  of  speed  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  man  who  holds  his  neck 
at  the  least  possible  price,  and  with  which  few,  except  thorough-bred 
horses,  and  not  all  of  them,  can  live  to  the  end  of  the  chace.  The  fox- 
hound is  lighter,  or,  as  it  is  now  called,  more  highly  bred,  or  he  retains 
a  greater  portion  of  his  original  size  and  heaviness,  according  to  the 
nature  of  the  country  and  the  fancy  of  the  master  of  the  pack :  there- 
fore it  is  difficult  to  give  an  accurate  description  of  the  best  variety  of 
this  dog;  but  there  are  guiding  points  which  can  never  be  forgotten 
without  serious  injury. 

He  derives  from  the  greyhound  a  head  somewhat  smaller  and  longer 
in  proportion  to  his  size  than  either  the  stag-hound  or  the  harrier.  But 
considerable  caution  is  requisite  here.  The  beauty  of  the  head  and  face, 
although  usually  accompanied  by  speed,  must  never  be  sacrificed  to  stout- 
ness and  power  of  scent.  The  object  of  the  sportsman  is  to  amalgamate 
them,  or  rather  to  possess  them  all  in  the  greatest  possible  degree.  This 
will  generally  be  brought  to  a  great  degree  of  perfection  if  the  sportsman 
regards  the  general  excellence  of  the  dog  rather  than  the  perfection  of 
any  particular  point.  The  ears  should  not,  comparatively  speaking,  be 
so  large  as  those  of  the  stag-hound  or  the  harrier ;  but  the  neck  should 
be  longer  and  lighter,  the  chest  deep  and  capacious,  the  fore  legs  straight 
as  arrows,  and  the  hind  ones  well  bent  at  the  hock. 

Some  extraordinary  accounts  have  been  given  of  the  speed  of  the  fox- 
hound. A  match  that  was  run  over  the  Beacon  Course  at  Newmarket  is 
the  best  illustration  of  his  fleetness.  The  distance  is  4  miles  1  furlong 
and  132  yards.  The  winning  dog  performed  it  in  8  minutes  and  a  few 
seconds ;  but  of  the  sixty  horses  that  started  with  the  hounds  only  twelve 
were  able  to  run  in  with  them.  Flying  Childers  had  run  the  same  course 
in  7  minutes  and  30  seconds. 

"  The  size,  or,  as  we  should  rather  say,  the  height  of  a  fox-hound,  is  a 
point  on  which  there  has  been  much  difference  of  opinion.  Mr.  Chule's 
pack  was  three  inches  below  the  standard  of  Mr.  Villebois',  and  four 
inches  below  that  of  Mr.  Warde's.  The  advocates  of  the  former  assert, 
that  they  get  better  across  a  deep  and  strongly  fenced  country,  while  the 

a  Beckford  on  Hunting,  p.  1 50. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG. 


73 


admirers  of  the  latter  insist  on  their  being  better  climbers  of  hills  and 
more  active  in  cover.  As  to  uniformity  in  size,  it  is  by  no  means  essential 
to  the  well-doing  of  hounds  in  the  field,  and  has  been,  disregarded  by  some 
of  our  best  sportsmen :  Mr.  Meynell  never  drafted  a  good  hound  on 
account  of  his  being  over  or  under  sized.  The  proper  standard  of  height 
in  fox-hounds  is  from  21  to  22  inches  for  bitches,  and  from  23  to  24  for 
dog-hounds.  Mr.  Warde's  bitches,  the  best  of  the  kind  that  our 
country  contained,  were  rather  more  than  23  inches.  A  few  of  his  dogs 
were  25  inches  high.  The  amount  of  hounds  annually  bred  will  depend 
upon  the  strength  of  the  kennel.  From  sixty  to  eighty  couples  is  the 
complement  for  a  four  days  a- week  pack,  which  will  require  the  breeding 
of  a  hundred  couples  of  puppies  every  year,  allowing  for  accidents  and 
distemper."  a 


THE    FOX-HOUND. 


Nimrod  very  properly  observes,  that  "  Mr.  Beckford  has  omitted  a 
point  much  thought  of  by  the  modern  sportsmen,  namely,  the  back-ribs, 
which  should  also  be  deep,  as  in  a  strong-bodied  horse,  of  which  we  say, 
when  so  formed,  that  he  has  a  good  'spur  place;'  a  point  highly  esteemed 
in  him.  Nor  is  he  sufficiently  descriptive  of  the  hinder  legs  of  the 
hound  ;  for  there  is  a  length  of  thigh  discernible  in  first-rate  hounds  which, 
like  the  well-let-down  hock  of  the  horse,  gives  them  much  superiority  of 
speed,  and  is  also  a  great  security  against  their  laming  themselves  in 
leaping  fences,  which  they  are  more  apt  to  do  when  they  become  blown  and 
consequently  weak.  The  fore  legs,  '  straight  as  arrows,'  is  an  admirable 

a  The  Horse  and  the  Hound,  by  Nimrod,  p.  340. 


.74  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

illustration  of  perfection  in  those  parts  by  Beckford ;  for,  as  in  a  bow  or 
bandy  legged  man,  nothing  is  so  disfiguring  to  a  hound  as  having  his 
elbows  projecting,  and  which  is  likewise  a  great  check  to  speed." a 

Mr.  Daniel  gives  a  curious  account  of  the  prejudices  of  sportsmen  on 
the  subject  of  colour.  The  white  dogs  were  curious  hunters,  and  had  a 
capital  scent ;  the  black,  with  some  white  spots,  were  obedient,  good 
hunters,  and  with  good  constitutions ;  the  gray-coloured  had  no  very 
acute  scent,  but  were  obstinate,  and  indefatigable  in  their  quest ;  the  yellow 
dogs  were  impatient  and  obstinate,  and  taught  with  difficulty.11 

The  dog  exhibits  no  criteria  of  age  after  the  first  two  years.  That 
period  having  elapsed,  the  whiteness  and  evenness  of  the  teeth  soon  pass 
away,  and  the  old  dog  can  scarcely  be  mistaken.  Nimrod  scarcely  speaks 
too  positively  when  he  says  that  an  old  hound  cannot  be  mistaken,  if  only 
looked  in  the  face.  At  all  events,  few  are  found  in  a  kennel  after  the 
eighth  year,  and  very  few  after  the  ninth. 

Mr.  Beckford  advises  the  sportsman  carefully  to  consider  the  size, 
shape,  colour,  constitution,  and  natural  disposition  of  the  dog  from  which 
he  breeds,  and  also  the  fineness  of  the  nose,  the  evident  strength  of  the 
limb,  and  the  good  temper  and  devotion  to  his  master  which  he  displays. 
The  faults  or  imperfections  in  one  breed  may  be  rectified  in  another  ;  and, 
if  this  is  properly  attended  to,  there  is  no  reason  why  improvements  may 
not  continually  be  made. 

The  separation  of  the  sexes  in  the  kennel  and  in  the  field  is  one  of  the 
latest  innovations  in  the  hunting  world,  and  generally  considered  to  be  a 
good  one.  The  eye  is  pleased  to  see  a  pack  of  hounds,  nearly  or  quite  of 
a  size.  The  character  of  the  animal  is  more  uniformly  displayed  when  con- 
fined to  one  sex.  In  consequence  of  the  separation  of  the  two.  the  dogs 
are  less  inclined  to  quarrel ;  and  the  bitches  are  more  at  their  ease  than  when 
undergoing  the  importunate  solicitations  of  the  male.  As  to  their  per- 
formances in  the  field,  opinions  vary,  and  each  sex  has  its  advocates.  The 
bitch,  with  a  good  fox  before  her,  is  decidedly  more  off  hand  at  her  work  ; 
but  she  is  less  patient,  and  sometimes  overruns  the  scent.  Sir  Bellingham 
Graham  has  been  frequently  heard  to  say,  that  if  his  kennels  would  have 
afforded  it,  he  would  never  have  taken  a  dog-hound  into  the  field.  That 
in  the  canine  race  the  female  has  more  of  elegance  and  symmetry  of  form, 
consequently  more  of  speed,  than  the  male,  is  evident  to  a  common  ob- 
server ;  but  there  is  nothing  to  lead  to  the  conclusion  that,  in  the  natural 
endowments  of  the  senses,  any  superiority  exists.  c 

The  bitch  should  not  be  allowed  to  engage  in  any  long  and  severe 
chace  after  she  has  been  lined.  She  should  be  kept  as  quiet  as  may 
be  practicable,  and  well  but  not  too  abundantly 'fed  ;  each  having  a  kennel 
or  place  of  retreat  for  herself.  She  should  be  carefully  watched,  and 
especially  when  the  ninth  week  approaches.  The  huntsman  and  the  keeper, 
without  any  apparent  or  unnecessary  intrusion,  should  be  on  the  alert. 

The  time  of  pupping  having  arrived,  as  little  noise  or  disturbance 
should  be  made  as  possible  ;  but  a  keeper  should  be  always  at  hand  in  case 
of  abortion  or  difficult  parturition.  Should  there  be  a  probability  of  either 
of  these  occurring,  he  should  not  be  in  a  hurry ;  for,  as  much  should  be 
left  to  nature  as  can,  without  evident  danger,  be  done,  and  the  keeper 
should  rarely  intrude  unless  his  assistance  is  indispensable. 

•  The  Horse  and  the  Hound,  by  Nimrod,  p.  332.  b  Daniel's  Fox-hound,  p.  205. 

c  The  Horse  and  the  Hound,  by  Nimrod,  p.  355. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  75 

The  pupping  being  accomplished,  the  mother  should  be  carefully  attended 
to.  She  should  be  liberally  fed,  and  particularly  should  have  her  share  of 
animal  food,  and  an  increased  quantity  of  milk. 

The  bitch  should  not  have  whelps  until  she  has  hunted  two  seasons ;  for, 
before  that  time  it  will  be  scarcely  possible  to  ascertain  her  excellences  or 
defects.  If  there  are  any  considerable  faults,  she  should  be  immediately 
rejected. 

When  the  time  approaches  for  her  to  produce  her  puppies,  she  should  be 
allowed  a  certain  degree  of  liberty,  and  should  choose  her  couch  and  run 
about  a  little  more  than  usual ;  but,  when  the  young  ones  are  born,  the  less 
they  are  handled  the  better.  The  constitution  and  appearance  of  the 
mother  will  indicate  how  many  should  be  kept.  If  two  litters  are  born 
at  or  about  the  same  time,  or  within  two  or  three  days  of  each  other,  we 
may  interchange  one  or  two  of  the  whelps  of  each  of  them,  and  perhaps 
increase  the  value  of  both. 

When  the  whelps  are  able  to  crawl  to  a  certain  distance,  it  will  be  time 
to  mark  them,  according  to  their  respective  litters,  some  on  the  ear  and 
others  on  the  lip.  The  dew-claws  should  be  removed,  and,  usually,  a  small 
tip  from  the  tail.  Their  names  also  should  be  recorded. 

The  whelps  will  begin  to  lap  very  soon  after  they  can  look  about  them, 
and  should  remain  with  the  mother  until  they  are  fully  able  to  take  care  of 
themselves.  They  may  then  be  prepared  to  go  to  quarters. 

Two  or  three  doses  of  physic  should  be  given  to  the  mother,  with  in- 
tervals of  four  or  five  days  between  each :  this  will  prepare  her  to  return 
to  the  kennel. 

There  is  often  considerable  difficulty  in  disposing  of  the  whelps  until 
they  get  old  and  stout  enough  to  be  brought  into  the  kennel.  They  are 
mostly  sent  to  some  of  the  neighbouring  cottages,  in  order  to  be  taken 
care  of;  but  they  are  often  neglected  and  half  starved  there.  In  conse- 
quence of  this,  distemper  soon  appears,  and  many  of  them  are  lost. 

Whelps  walked,  or  taken  care  of  at  butchers'  houses,  soon  grow  to  a  con- 
siderable size  ;  but  they  are  apt  to  be  heavy-shouldered  and  throaty,  and 
perhaps  otherwise  deformed.  There  is  some  doubt  whether  it  might  not 
be  better  for  the  sportsman  to  take  the  management  of  them  himself,  and 
to  have  a  kennel  built  purposely  for  them.  It  may,  perhaps,  be  feared 
that  the  distemper  will  get  among  them :  they  would,  however,  be  well 
fed,  and  far  more  comfortable  than  they  now  are  ;  and,  as  to  the  distemper, 
it  is  a  disease  that  they  must  have  some  time  or  other. 

From  twenty  to  thirty  couples  are  quite  as  many  as  can  be  easily 
managed  ;  and  the  principal  consideration  is,  whether  they  are  steady,  and 
as  nearly  as  possible  possessing  equal  speed.  When  the  packs  are  very 
large,  the  hounds  are  seldom  sufficiently  hunted  to  be  good.  Few  persons 
choose  to  hunt  every  day,  or,  if  they  did,  it  is  not  likely  that  the  weather 
would  permit  them.  The  sportsman  would,  therefore,  be  compelled  to  take 
an  inconvenient  number  into  the  field,  and  too  many  must  be  left  behind. 
In  the  first  place,  too  many  hounds  in  the  field  would  frequently  spoil  the 
sport ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  the  hounds  that  remained  would  get  out  of 
wind,  or  become  riotous,  or  both.  Hounds,  to  be  useful  and  good,  should 
be  constantly  hunted  ;  but  a  great  fault  in  many  packs  is  their  having  too 
many  old  dogs  among  them. 

Young  hounds,  when  first  taken  to  the  kennel,  should  be  kept  separate 
from  the  rest  of  the  pack,  otherwise  there  will  be  frequent  and  dangerous 


76  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

quarrels.  When  these  do  occur,  the  feeder  hears,  and  sometimes,  but  not 
so  frequently  as  he  ought,  endeavours  to  discover  the  cause  of  the  disturb- 
ance, and  visits  the  culprits  with  deserved  punishment ;  too  often,  how- 
ever, he  does  not  give  himself  time  for  this,  but  rushes  among  them,  and 
flogs  every  hound  that  he  can  get  at,  guilty  or  not  guilty.  This  is  a 
shameful  method  of  procedure.  It  is  the  cause  of  much  undeserved  punish- 
ment :  it  spoils  the  temper  of  the  dog,  and  makes  him  careless  and  indif- 
ferent as  long  as  he  lives. 

Mr.  Beckford  very  properly  remarks,  that  "  Young  hounds  are,  and 
must  be  awkward  at  first,  and  should  be  taken  out,  a  few  at  a  time,  with 
couples  not  too  loose.  They  are  thus  accustomed  to  the  usual  occurrences 
of  the  road,  and  this  is  most  easily  accomplished  when  a  young  and  an  old 
dog  are  coupled  together." 

A  sheep-field  is  the  next  object,  and  the  young  hound,  properly  watched, 
soon  becomes  reconciled,  and  goes  quietly  along  with  the  companion  of 
the  preceding  day.  A  few  days  afterwards  the  dogs  are  uncoupled  in  the 
field,  and  perhaps,  at  first,  are  not  a  little  disposed  to  attack  the  sheep  ;  but 
the  cry  of  "Ware  sheep!"  in  a  stern  tone  of  voice,  arrests  them,  and 
often,  without  the  aid  of  the  whip  ;  it  being  taken  as  a  principle  that  this 
instrument  should  be  used  as  seldom  as  possible.  If,  indeed,  the  dog  is 
self-willed,  the  whip  must  be  had  recourse  to,  and  perhaps  with  some 
severity  ;  for,  if  he  is  once  suffered  to  taste  the  blood  of  the  sheep  it  may  be 
difficult  to  restrain  him  afterwards.  A  nobleman  was  told  that  it  was  pos- 
sible to  break  his  dogs  of  the  habit  of  attacking  his  sheep,  by  introducing 
a  large  and  fearless  ram  among  them  ;  one  was  accordingly  procured  and 
turned  into  the  kennel.  The  men  with  their  whips  and  voices,  and  the 
ram  with  his  horns,  soon  threw  the  whole  kennel  into  confusion.  The 
hounds  and  the  ram  were  left  together.  Meeting  a  friend  soon  afterwards, 
"  Come,"  said  he,  "  to  the  kennel,  arid  see  what  rare  sport  the  ram  is 
making  among  the  hounds."  His  friend  asked  whether  he  was  not  afraid 
that  some  of  them  might  be  spoiled.  "  No,"  said  he ;  "  they  deserve  it, 
and  let  them  suffer."  They  proceeded  to  the  kennel ;  all  was  quiet.  The 
kennel-door  was  thrown  open,  and  the  remains  of  the  ram  were  found  scat- 
tered about :  the  hounds,  having  filled  their  bellies,  had  retired  to  rest. 

The  time  of  entering  young  hounds  must  vary  in  different  countries. 
In  a  corn  country,  it  should  not  be  until  the  wheat  is  carried  ;  in  grass 
countries,  somewhat  sooner ;  and,  in  woodlands,  as  soon  as  we  please.  Fre- 
quent hallooing  may  be  of  use  with  young  hounds ;  it  makes  them  more 
eager ;  but,  generally  speaking,  there  is  a  time  when  it  may  be  of  use,  a 
time  when  it  does  harm,  and  a  time  when  it  is  perfectly  indifferent. 

The  following  remarks  of  Mr.  Beckford  are  worthy  of  their  author : — 
"  Hounds  at  their  first  entering  cannot  be  encouraged  too  much.  When 
they  begin  to  know  what  is  right,  it  will  be  soon  enough  to  chastise  them 
for  doing  wrong,  and,  in  such  case,  one  rather  severe  beating  will  save  a 
great  deal  of  trouble.  The  voice  should  be  used  as  well  as  the  whip  ;  and 
the  smack  of  the  whip  will  often  be  of  as  much  avail  as  the  lash  to  him 
who  has  felt  it." 

Flogging  hounds  in  the  kennel,  the  frequent  practice  of  too  many  hunts- 
men, should  be  held  in  utter  abhorrence,  and,  if  carried  to  a  considerable 
excess,  is  a  disgrace  to  humanity.  Generally  speaking,  none  but  the  sports- 
man can  form  an  adequate  conception  of  the  perfect  obedience  of  the  hound 
both  in  the  kennel  and  the  field.  At  feeding-time,  each  dog,  although 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  77 

hungry  enough,  will  go  through  the  gate  in  the  precise  order  in  which 
he  is  called  by  the  feeder ;  and,  in  a  well-broken  pack,  to  chop  at,  or  to 
follow  a  hare,  or  to  give  tongue  on  a  false  scent,  or  even  to  break  cover 
alone,  although  the  fox  is  in  view,  are  faults  that  are  rarely  witnessed. 

Let  not  this  obedience,  however,  be  purchased  by  the  infliction  of  a 
degree  of  cruelty  that  disgraces  both  the  master  and  the  menial.  A  young 
fox-hound  may,  possibly,  mistake  the  scent  of  a  hare  for  that  of  a  fox,  and 
give  tongue.  In  too  many  hunts  he  will  be  unmercifully  flogged  for  this, 
and  some  have  almost  died  under  the  lash.  Mercy  is  a  word  totally  un- 
known to  a  great  proportion  of  whippers-in,  and  even  to  many  who  call 
themselves  gentlemen.  There  can  be  no  occasion  or  excuse  for  barbarity  : 
a  little  trouble,  and  moderate  punishment,  and  the  example  of  his  fellows, 
will  gradually  teach  the  wildest  hound  his  duty. 

That  the  huntsman,  and  not  the  hound,  may  occasionally  be  in  fault,  the 
following  anecdote  will  furnish  sufficient  proof.  In  drawing  a  strong 
cover,  a  young  bitch  gave  tongue  very  freely,  while  none  of  the  other 
hounds  challenged.  The  whipper-in  railed  to  no  purpose ;  the  huntsman 
insisted  that  she  was  wrong,  and  the  whip  was  applied  with  great  severity. 
In  doing  this,  the  lash  accidentally  struck  one  of  her  eyes  out  of  its  socket. 

Notwithstanding  the  dreadful  pain  that  must  have  ensued,  she  again 
took  up  the  scent,  and  proved  herself  right ;  for  the  fox  had  stolen  away, 
and  she  had  broken  cover  after  him,  unheeded  and  alone.  After  much  delay 
and  cold  hunting,  the  pack  hit  off  the  same  scent. 

At  some  distance  a  farmer  informed  the  sportsmen,  that  they  were  a 
long  way  behind  the  fox,  for  he  had  seen  a  single  hound,  very  bloody  about 
the  head,  running  breast-high,  so  that  there  was  but  little  chance  of  their 
getting  up  with  her.  The  pack,  from  her  coming  to  a  check,  did  at  length 
overtake  her. 

The  same  bitch  once  more  hit  off  the  scent,  and  the  fox  was  killed,  after 
a  long  and  severe  run.  The  eye  of  the  poor  animal,  that  had  hung  pen- 
dent through  the  chace,  was  then  taken  off  with  a  pair  of  scissors. 

THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  SEASON. 

During  the  beginning  of  autumn,  the  hounds  should  be  daily  exercised 
when  the  weather  will  permit.  They  should  often  be  called  over  in  the  ken- 
nel to  habituate  them  to  their  names,  and  walked  out  among  the  sheep  and 
deer,  in  order  that  they  may  be  accustomed  perfectly  to  disregard  them. 

A  few  stout  hounds  being  added  to  the  young  ones,  some  young  foxes 
may  occasionally  be  turned  out.  If  they  hunt  improper  game,  they  must 
be  sternly  checked.  Implicit  obedience  is  required  until  they  have  been 
sufficiently  taught  as  to  the  game  which  they  are  to  pursue.  No  obsti- 
nate deviation  from  it  must  ever  be  pardoned.  The  hounds  should  be,  as 
much  as  possible,  taken  out  into  the  country  which  they  are  afterwards  to 
hunt,  and  some  young  foxes  are  probably  turned  out  for  them  to  pursue. 
At  length  they  are  suffered  to  hunt  their  game  in  thorough  earnest,  and 
to  taste  of  its  blood. 

After  this  they  are  sent  to  more  distant  covers,  and  more  old  hounds 
are  added,  and  so  they  continue  until  they  are  taken  into  the  pack,  which 
usually  happens  in  September.  The  young  hounds  continue  to  be  added, 
two  or  three  couple  at  a  time,  until  all  have  hunted.  They  are  then  divided 
into  two  packs,  to  be  taken  out  on  alternate  days.  Properly  speaking,  the 


78  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

sport  cannot  be  said  to  begin  until  October,  but  the  two  preceding  months 
are  important  and  busy  ones.a 

"  It  would  appear,  then,"  says  Nimrod,  "  that  the  breeding  of  a  pack 
of  fox-hounds,  bordering  on  perfection,  is  a  task  of  no  ordinary  difficulty. 
The  best  proof  of  it  is  to  be  found  in  the  few  sportsmen  that  have  succeeded 
in  it.  Not  only  is  every  good  quality  obtained  if  possible,  but  every  im- 
perfection or  fault  is  avoided.  The  highest  virtue  in  a  fox-hound  is  his 
being  true  to  the  line  his  game  has  gone,  and  a  stout  runner  at  the  end  of 
the  chace.  He  must  also  be  a  patient  hunter  when  there  is  a  cold  scent 
and  the  pack  is  at  fault." 

While  there  is  no  country  in  the  world  that  can  produce  a  breed  of 
horses  to  equal  the  English  thorough-bred  in  his  present  improved  state, 
there  are  no  dogs  like  the  English  fox-hound  for  speed,  scent,  and  con- 
tinuance. It  would  seem  as  if  there  were  something  in  the  climate 
favourable  and  necessary  to  the  perfection  of  the  hound.  Packs  of  them 
have  been  sent  to  other  countries,  neighbouring  and  remote ;  but  they  have 
usually  become  more  or  less  valueless. 

As  regards  the  employment  of  the  voice  and  the  horn  when  out  with 
hounds,  too  much  caution  cannot  be  used.  A  hound  should  never  be 
cheered  unless  we  are  perfectly  coHvinced  that  he  is  right,  nor  rated  unless 
we  are  sure  that  he  is  wrong.  When  we  are  not  sure  of  what  is  going  on 
we  should  sit  still  and  be  silent.  A  few  moments  will  possibly  put  us  in 
possession  of  all  that  we  wish  to  know.b 

The  horn  should  only  be  used  on  particular  occasions,  and  a  huntsman 
should  speak  by  his  horn  as  much  as  by  his  voice.  Particular  notes  should 
mean  certain  things,  and  the  hounds  and  the  field  should  understand  the 
language.  We  have  heard  some  persons  blowing  the  horn  all  the  day  long, 
and  the  hounds  have  become  so  careless  as  to  render  it  of  no  use.  When  a 
hound  first  speaks  in  cover  to  a  fox,  you  may,  if  you  think  it  necessary,  use 
one  single  and  prolonged  note  to  get  the  pack  together.  The  same  note 
will  do  at  any  time  to  call  up  a  lost  or  loitering  hound  ;  but,  when  the  fox 
breaks  cover,  then  let  your  horn  be  marked  in  its  notes :  let  it  sound  as 
if  you  said  through  it,  "  Gone  away  !  gone  away  !  gone  away  !  away  ! 
away  !  away  1  "  dwelling  with  full  emphasis  on  the  last  syllable.  Every 
hound  will  fly  from  the  cover  the  moment  he  hears  this,  and  the  sportsmen 
and  the  field  will  know  that  the  fox  is  away. 

It  is  the  perfection  of  the  horse,  and  the  perfection  of  the  hound,  and 
the  disregard  of  trifling  expense,  that  has  given  to  Englishmen  a  partiality 
for  field-sports,  unequalled  in  any  other  country.  Mr.  Ware's  pack  of 
fox-hounds  cost  2,000  guineas,  and  the  late  Lord  Middleton  gave  the  same 
to  Mr.  Osbaldeston  for  ten  couples  of  his  hounds. 

a  Beckford's  Thoughts  on  Hunting,  p.  95.  running,  and  an  ear  so  excellent  as  to  dis- 
b  Mr.  Beckford  gives  the  following  ex-  tinguish  the  leading  hounds  when  he  does 
cellent  account  of  what  a  huntsman  should  not  see  them.  He  should  be  quiet,  pa- 
be  :— "  A  huntsman  should  be  attached  tient,  and  without  conceit.  Such  are  the 
to  the  sport,  and  indefatigable,  young,  qualities  which  constitute  perfection  in  a 
strong,  active,  bold,  and  enterprising  in  huntsman.  He  should  not,  however,  be 
the  pursuit  of  it.  He  should  be  sensible,  too  fond  of  displaying  them  until  called 
good-tempered,  sober,  exact,  and  cleanly —  forth  by  necessity ;  it  being  a  peculiar  and 
a  good  groom  and  an  excellent  horseman.  distinguishing  trait  in  his  character  to  let 
His  voice  should  be  strong  and  clear,  with  his  hounds  alone  while  they  thus  hunt, 
an  eye  so  quick  as  to  perceive  which  of  and  have  genius  to  assist  them  when  they 
his  hounds  carries  the  scent  when  all  are  cannot." — Beckford  on  Hunting,  Letter  ix. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  79 

HUNTING-KENNELS. 

It  is  time,  however,  to  speak  of  the  kennel,  whether  we  regard  the 
sporting  architecture  of  Mr.  G.  Tattersall,  or  the  scientific  inquiries  of 
Mr.  Vyner,  or  a  sketch  of  the  noble  buildings  at  Goodwood. 

The  lodging-rooms  should  be  ceiled,  but  not  plastered,  with  ventilators 
above  and  a  large  airy  window  on  either  side.  The  floors  should  be  laid 
with  flags  or  paved  with  bricks.  Cement  may  be  used  instead  of  mortar, 
and  the  kennels  will  then  be  found  wholesome  and  dry.  The  doorways 
of  the  lodging-houses  will  generally  be  four  feet  and  a  half  wide  in  the 
clear.  The  posts  are  rounded,  to  prevent  the  hounds  from  being  injured 
when  they  rush  out.  The  benches  may  be  made  of  cast  iron  or  wood ; 
those  composed  of  iron  being  most  durable,  but  the  hounds  are  more 
frequently  lamed  in  getting  to  them.  The  wooden  benches  must  be  bound 
with  iron,  or  the  hounds  will  gnaw  or  destroy  them.  A  question  has 
arisen,  whether  the  benches  should  be  placed  round  the  kennel,  or  be  in 
the  centre  of  it,  allowing  a  free  passage  by  the  side.  There  is  least 
danger  of  the  latter  being  affected  by  the  damp.  The  walls  should  be 
wainscoted  to  the  height  of  three  feet  at  least.  This  will  tend  very  con- 
siderably to  their  comfort. 

The  floors  of  all  the  courts  should  be  arranged  in  nearly  the  same  way ; 
the  partition  walls  being  closed  at  the  bottom,  but  with  some  iron-work 
above.  The  doorways  should  also  be  so  contrived,  that  the  huntsman  may 
be  able  to  enter  whenever  he  pleases.  The  boiling-house  should  be  at  as 
great  a  distance  from  the  hunting-kennel  as  can  be  managed,  continuing 
to  give  warmth  to  the  infirmary  for  distempered  puppies,  and  at  the  same 
time  being  out  of  the  way  of  the  other  courts. 

Mr.  Vyner  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  young  hound's  kennel : 
"  This  building,"  he  says,  "  should  be  as  far  from  the  other  lodging- 
rooms  as  the  arrangements  of  the  structure  will  allow.  There  is  also  an 
additional  court,  or  grass-yard,  an  indispensable  requisite  in  the  puppies' 
kennel.  The  size  must  be  regulated  according  to  the  waste  land  at  the 
end  of  the  building ;  but  the  longer  it  is,  the  better.  At  the  farther  end 
of  the  grass-court  is  a  hospital  for  such  young  hounds  as  are  distempered, 
so  contrived  as  to  be  remote  from  the  other  kennels,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
within  an  easy  distance  of  the  boiling-house,  whence  it  is  apparently  ap- 
proached by  an  outside  door,  through  which  the  feeder  can  constantly  pass 
to  attend  to  the  sick  hounds  without  disturbing  the  healthy  lots.  Although 
this  lodging-room  is  warmed  by  the  chimneys  of  the  boiling-house,  it  must 
also  be  well  ventilated  by  two  windows,  to  which  shutters  must  be  attached  ; 
ventilation  and  good  air  being  quite  as  necessary  to  the  cure  of  distemper 
as  warmth." 

KENNEL  LAMENESS. 

We  now  proceed  to  a  most  important  and  ill-understood  subject — the 
nature  and  treatment  of  kennel  lameness.  It  is  a  subject  that  nearly 
concerns  the  sportsman,  and  on  which  there  are  several  and  the  most  con- 
trary opinions. 

This  is  a  kind  of  lameness  connected  with,  or  attributable  to,  the  kennel. 
According  to  the  early  opinion  of  Mr.  Asheton  Smith,  who  is  a  good 
authority,  it  was  referrible  to  some  peculiarity  in  the  breed  or  management 
of  the  hounds ;  but,  agreeably  to  a  later  opinion,  it  is  dependent  on  situ- 


80  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

ation  and  subsoil,  and  may  be  aggravated  or  increased  by  circumstances 
over  which  we  have  no  control.  Some  kennels  are  in  low  and  damp  situ- 
ations, yet  the  hounds  are  free  from  all  complaint ;  and  others,  with  the 
stanchest  dogs  and  under  the  best  management,  are  continually  sinking 
under  kennel  lameness. 

Mr.  R.  T.  Yyner  was  one  of  the  first  who  scientifically  treated  on  this 
point,  and  taught  us  that  clay  is  not  by  any  means  an  objectionable  soil  to 
build  a  kennel  upon,  although  so  many  pseudo-sportsmen  are  frightened 
by  the  very  name  of  it. 

He  enters  at  once  into  his  subject.  "  I  am  thoroughly  convinced,"  says 
he,  "  from  my  own  experience,  and,  I  may  add,  my  own  suffering,  that  the 
disease  of  kennel  lameness  arises  only  from  one  cause,  and  that  is  an  inju- 
dicious and  unfortunate  selection  of  the  spot  for  building.  The  kennel  is 
generally  built  on  a  sandbed,  or  on  a  sandstone  rock,  while  the  healthiest 
grounds  in  England  are  on  a  stiff  clay,  and  they  are  the  healthiest  because 
they  are  the  least  porous.  Although  this  may  be  contrary  to  the  opinion 
and  prejudice  of  the  majority  of  sportsmen,  it  is  a  fact  that  cannot  be 
contradicted. 

"  Through  a  light  and  friable  soil,  such  as  sand  and  sandstone,  a  vapour, 
more  or  less  dense,  is  continually  exhaling  and  causing  a  perpetual  damp, 
which  produces  that  fearful  rheumatism  which  goes  by  the  name  of  kennel 
lameness,  while  the  kennels  that  are  built  on  a  clay  soil,  a  soil  of  an  im- 
pervious nature,  are  invariably  healthy. 

"  I  could,"  he  adds,  "  enumerate  twenty  kennels  to  prove  the  effect — 
the  invariable  effect — of  the  existence  of  the  disease  on  the  one  part,  and 
of  the  healthiness  of  the  situation  on  the  other.  I  turn  particularly  to 
Her  Majesty's  kennel  at  Ascot,  the  arches  of  which  were  laid  under  the 
very  foundation  stones,  and  yet  little  or  no  amendment  has  ever  taken 
place  in  the  healthiness  and  comfort  of  the  dogs.  It  is  necessary  to  select 
a  sound  and  healthy  situation  when  about  to  erect  a  kennel,  and  that  sound 
and  healthy  situation  can  be  met  with  alone  on  a  strong  impervious  clay 
soil.  We  must  have  no  fluid  oozing  through  the  walls  or  the  floor  of  the 
kennel,  and  producing  damp  and  unhealthy  vapours,  such  as  we  find  in  the 
sandbed."  With  regard  to  this  there  can  be  no  error. 

Nimrod,  in  his  excellent  treatise  on  Kennel  Lameness,  asks,  whether  it 
does  not  appear  that  this  disease  is  on  the  increase.  He  asks,  "  How 
it  is  that  neither  Beckford  nor  Somerville  says  one  word  that  clearly  applies 
to  the  disease ;  and  no  one,  however  learned  he  might  be  in  canine  patho- 
logy, has  been  able  clearly  to  define  the  disease,  much  less  to  discover  a 
remedy  for  it  ?" 

All  that  Mr.  Blaine  says  on  the  matter  amounts  only  to  this : — "  The 
healthiness  of  the  situation  on  which  any  kennel  is  to  be  built  is  an  im- 
portant consideration.  It  is  essential  that  it  should  be  both  dry  and  airy, 
and  it  should  also  be  warm.  A  damp  kennel  produces  rheumatism  in  dogs, 
which  shows  itself  sometimes  by  weakness  in  the  loins,  but  more  frequently 
by  lameness  in  the  shoulders,  known  under  the  name  of  kennel  lameness." 

Mr.  Blaine  illustrates  this  by  reference  to  his  own  experience.  "  There 
is  no  disease,  with  the  exception  of  distemper  and  mange,  to  which  dogs 
are  so  liable  as  to  a  rheumatic  affection  of  some  part  of  the  body.  It  pre- 
sents almost  as  many  varieties  in  the  dog  as  it  does  in  man ;  and  it  has  some 
peculiarities  observable  in  the  dog  only.  Rheumatism  never  exists  in  a 
dog  without  affecting  the  bowels.  There  will  be  inflammation  or  painful 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  81 

torpor  through  the  whole  of  the  intestinal  canal.  It  is  only  in  some  pecu- 
liar districts  that  this  occurs  ;  it  pervades  certain  kennels  only ;  and  but 
until  lately  there  has  been  little  or  almost  no  explanation  of  the  cause  of 
the  evil."  a 

Nimrod  took  a  most  important  view  of  the  matter,  and  to  him  the 
sporting-  world  is  much  indebted.  "  How  is  it,"  he  asks,  "  that,  in  our 
younger  days,  we  never  heard  of  kennel  lameness,  or,  indeed,  of  hounds 
being  lame  at  all,  unless  from  accident,  or  becoming  shaken  and  infirm 
from  not  having  been  composed  of  that  iron-bound  material  which  the 
labours  of  a  greyhound  or  a  hound  require  ?  How  is  it,  that,  in  our 
younger  days,  masters  of  hounds  began  the  season  with  50  or  60  couples, 
and,  bating  the  casualties,  left  off  at  the  end  of  it  equally  strong  in  their 
kennels,  and  able,  perhaps,  to  make  a  valuable  draft ;  whereas  we  now  hear 
of  one-half  of  the  dogs  in  certain  localities  being  disabled  by  disease,  and 
some  masters  of  hounds  compelled  to  be  stopped  in  their  work  until  their 
kennels  are  replenished." 

Washing  hounds  when  they  come  home  after  work  must  be  injurious  to 
them,"  although  it  has  almost  become  the  fashion  of  modern  times.  If 
they  are  not  washed  at  all,  and  we  believe  it  to  be  unnecessary,  yet  the 
kennels  in  which  lameness  has  appeared  should  be  strictly  avoided.  It 
should  be  on  the  day  following,  and  not  in  the  evening  of  a  hunting-day 
that  washing  should  take  place. 

Mr.  Hodgson  told  Nimrod,  that  the  Quorn  Pack  never  had  a  case  of 
kennel  lameness  until  his  late  huntsman  took  to  washing  his  hounds  after 
hunting,  and  then  he  often  had  four  or  five  couples  ill  from  this  cause.  He 
deprecated  even  their  access  to  water  in  the  evening  after  hunting,  and  we 
believe  that  he  was  quite  right  in  so  doing. 

The  tongue  of  the  dog,  with  the  aid  of  clean  straw,  is  his  best  and  safest 
instrument  in  cleansing  his  person  ;  and,  if  he  can  be  brought  to  his  kennel 
with  tolerably  clean  feet,  as  Mr.  Foljambe  enables  him  to  be  brought,  he  will 
never  be  long  before  he  is  comfortable  in  his  bed,  after  his  belly  is  filled. 

There  is  another  mode,  as  a  preventive  of  kennel  lameness,  which  we  have 
the  best  authority  for  saying  deserves  particular  attention,  and  that  is,  the 
frequently  turning  hounds  off  their  benches  during  the  day,  even  if  it  were 
to  the  extent  of  every  two  hours  throughout  the  entire  day.  "We  do  not  mean 
to  deny  the  existence  of  a  disease,  which,  being  produced  in  the  kennel,  is 
properly  termed  kennel  lameness.  Some  kennels  are,  no  doubt,  more  un- 
healthy and  prone  to  engender  rheumatic  affections  than  others ;  but,  by 
proper  management,  and  avoiding  as  much  as  possible  all  exciting  causes, 
their  effects  may,  at  least,  be  very  much  lessened,  if  not  entirely  obviated. 


Lord  Fitzhardinge's  opinion  of  the  situation  of  the  kennel  and  the 
management  of  the  hounds,  as  given  in  the  New  Sporting  Magazine,  is 
somewhat  different  from  that  which  has  been  just  given.  The  following 
is  the  substance  of  it : b 

He  states  that  the  kennel  should  be  built  on  a  dry  and  warm  situa- 

a  Elaine  on  the  Diseases  of  the  Dog,  b  See  Hints  to  Young  Masters  of  Fox- 
p.  140.  hounds  —  New  Sport.  Mag.,  vol.  viii.  p. 

174-290. 

G 


8'2  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

ation.  Of  this  there  can  be  no  doubt :  the  comfort  and  almost  the  exist- 
ence of  the  dog  depend  upon  it.  To  this  he  adds  that  it  must  not  be 
placed  on  a  gravelly  or  porous  soil,  over  which  vapours  more  or  less  dense 
are  frequently  or  continually  travelling,  and  thus  causing  a  destructive  ex- 
halation over  the  whole  of  the  building.  There  must  be  no  fluid  oozing 
through  the  walls  or  the  floor  of  the  kennel,  and  producing  damp  and 
unhealthy  vapours.  When  we  have  not  a  deep  supersoil  of  clay,  one  or 
two  layers  of  bricks  or  of  stone  may  line  the  floor,  and  then,  not  even  the 
most  subtile  vapour  can  penetrate  through  the  floor.  A  clean  bed  of  straw 
should  be  allowed  every  second  day,  or  oftener  when  the  weather  is  wet. 
The  lodging-houses  should  be  ceiled,  and  there  should  be  shutters  to  the 
windows.  A  thatched  roof  is  preferable  to  tiles,  being  warmer  in  winter 
and  cooler  in  summer. 

Stoves  in  the  kennels  are  not  necessary  :  probably  they  are  best  avoided  ; 
for,  if  dogs  are  accustomed  to  any  considerable  degree  of  artificial  heat, 
they  are  more  easily  chilled  by  a  long  exposure  to  cold.  Their  teeth  and 
the  setting-up  of  their  backs  will  confirm  this. 

Hounds,  when  they  feel  cold,  naturally  seek  each  other  for  warmth,  and 
they  may  be  seen  lying  upon  the  straw  and  licking  each  other  ;  and  that  is 
by  far  the  most  wholesome  way  of  procuring  comfort  and  warmth. 

On  returning  from  hunting,  their  feet  should  be  washed  with  some  warm 
fluid,  and  especially  the  eyes  should  be  examined,  and  their  food  got  ready 
for  them  as  soon  as  possible.  The  feeding  in  the  morning  should  be  an  hour, 
or  an  hour  and  a  half,  before  they  start  for  the  field. 

It  is  truly  observed  by  the  noble  writer  to  whom  we  have  referred,  that 
'there  is  no  part  of  an  establishment  of  this  kind  that  merits  more  attention 
than  the  boiling  and  feeding  house.  The  hounds  cannot  perform  their 
work  well  unless  judiciously  fed.  Each  hound  requires  particular  and 
constitutional  care.  No  more  than  five  of  them  should  be  let  in  to  feed 
together,  and  often  not  more  than  one  or  two.  The  feeder  should  have 
each  hound  under  his  immediate  observation,  or  they  may  get  too  much  or 
too  little  of  the  food. 

Some  hounds  cannot  run  if  they  carry  much  flesh ;  others  are  all  the 
better  for  having  plenty  about  them.  The  boilers  should  be  of  iron,  two 
in  number, — one  for  meal  and  the  smaller  one  for  flesh.  The  large  boiler 
should  render  it  necessary  to  be  used  not  more  than  once  in  four  days  or  a 
week.  The  food  should  be  stirred  for  two  hours,  then  transferred  to  flat 
coolers,  until  sufficiently  gelatinous  to  be  cut  with  a  kind  of  spade.  By 
the  admixture  of  some  portion  of  soups  it  may  be  brought  to  any  thick- 
ness requisite.  The  flesh  to  be  mixed  with  it  should  be  cut  very  small, 
that  the  greedy  hounds  may  not  be  able  to  obtain  more  than  their  share. 
Four  bushels  and  a  half  of  genuine  old  oatmeal  should  be  boiled  with  a 
hundred  gallons  of  water.  The  flesh  should  be  boiled  every  second  or  third 
day.  Too  great  a  proportion  of  soup  would  render  the  mixture  of  a  heat- 
ing nature. 

Mr.  Delme  Radcliffe  very  truly  observes  that  the  feeding  of  hounds,  as 
regards  their  condition,  is  one  of  the  most  essential  proofs  of  a  huntsman's 
skill  in  the  management  of  the  kennel.  To  preserve  that  even  state  of 
condition  throughout  the  pack  which  is  so  desirable,  he  must  be  well 
acquainted  with  the  appetite  of  every  hound  ;  for  some  will  feed  with  a 
voracity  scarcely  credible,  and  others  will  require  every  kind  of  enticement 
to  induce  them  to  feed. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  83 

Mr.  Meynell  found  that  the  use  of  dry  unboiled  oatmeal  succeeded  better 
than  any  other  thing  he  had  tried  with  delicate  hounds.  When  once 
induced  to  take  it,  they  would  eat  it  greedily,  and  it  seemed  to  be  far  more 
heartening  than  most  kinds  of  aliment.  Other  hounds  of  delicate  con- 
stitution might  be  tempted  with  a  little  additional  flesh,  and  with  the 
thickest  and  best  of  the  trough,  but  they  required  to  be  watched,  and  often 
to  be  coaxed  to  eat. 

The  dog  possesses  the  power  of  struggling  against  want  of  food  for  an 
almost  incredible  period.  One  of  these  animals,  six  years  old,  was  miss- 
ing three-and-twenty  days  ;  at  length  some  children  wandering  in  a  distant 
wood  thought  that  they  frequently  heard  the  baying  of  a  dog.  The  master 
was  told  of  it,  and  at  the  bottom  of  an  old  quarry,  sixty  feet  deep,  and  the 
mouth  of  which  he  had  almost  closed  by  his  vain  attempts  to  escape,  the 
voice  of  the  poor  fellow  was  recognised.  With  much  difficulty  he  was 
extricated,  and  found  in  a  state  of  emaciation  ;  his  body  cold  as  ice  and  his 
thirst  inextinguishable,  and  he  scarcely  able  to  move.  They  gave  him  at 
intervals  small  portions  of  bread  soaked  in  milk  and  water.  Two  days 
afterwards  he  was  able  to  follow  his  master  a  short  distance. 

This  occurrence  is  mentioned  by  M.  Pinguin  as  a  proof  that  neither 
hunger  nor  thirst  could  produce  rabies.  Messrs.  Majendie  and  F.  Cousins 
have  carried  their  observations  to  the  extent  of  forty  days, — a  disgraceful 
period. a 

MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  PACK. 

Sixty-five  couples  of  hounds  in  full  work  will  consume  the  carcases  of 
three  horses  in  one  week,  or  five  in  a  fortnight.  The  annual  consumption 
of  meal  will  be  somewhat  more  than  two  tons  per  month. 

In  feeding,  the  light  eaters  should  be  let  in  first,  and  a  little  extra  flesh 
distributed  on  the  surface  of  the  food,  in  order  to  coax  those  that  are  most 
shy.  Some  hounds  cannot  be  kept  to  their  work  unless  fed  two  or  three 
times  a  day;  while  others  must  not  be  allowed  more  than  six  or  seven  laps, 
or  they  would  get  too  much. 

In  summer  an  extra  cow  or  two  will  be  of  advantage  in  the  dairy  ;  for 
the  milk,  after  it  has  been  skimmed,  may  be  used  instead  of  flesh. 
There  must  always  be  a  little  flesh  in  hand  for  the  sick,  for  bitches  with 
their  whelps,  and  for  the  entry  of  young  hounds.b  About  Christmas  is  the 
time  to  arrange  the  breeding  establishment.  The  number  of  puppies 
produced  is  usually  from  five  to  eight  or  nine ;  but,  in  one  strange  case, 
eighteen  of  them  made  their  appearance.  The  constitution  and  other  ap- 
pearances in  the  dam,  will  decide  the  number  to  be  preserved.  When  the 
whelps  are  sufficiently  grown  to  run  about,  they  should  be  placed  in  a 
warm  situation,  with  plenty  of  fresh  grass,  and  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
clean,  but  not  too  stimulating,  food.  They  should  then  be  marked  accord- 
ing to  their  "respective  letters,  that  they  may  be  always  recognised.  When 
the  time  comes,  the  ears  of  the  dog  should  be  rounded  ;  the  size  of  the  ear 
and  of  the  head  guiding  the  rounding-iron. 

This  being  passed,  the  master  of  the  pack  takes  care  that  his  treatment 
shall  be  joyous  and  playful ;  encouragement  is  always  with  him  the  word. 
The  dog  should  be  taught  the  nature  of  the  fault  before  he  is  corrected : 

a  Traite  de  la  Folie  des  Animaux,  torn.  ii.  39.  b  Mr.  D.  Radcliffe. 

G  2 


84  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

no  animal  is  more  grateful  for  kindness  than  a  hound  ;  the  peculiarities  of 
his  temper  will  soon  be  learned,  and  when  he  begins  to  love  his  master,  he 
will  mind,  from  his  natural  and  acquired  affection,  a  word  or  a  frown  from 
him  more  than  the  blows  of  all  the  whips  that  were  ever  put  into  the  hands 
of  the  keepers. 

The  distemper  having  passed,  and  the  young  hounds  being  in  good  health, 
they  should  be  walked  out  every  day,  and  taught  to  follow  the  horse,  with  a 
keeper  who  is  selected  as  a  kind  and  quiet  person,  and  will  bear  their  occa- 
sionally entangling  themselves  in  their  couples.  They  are  then  taken  to 
the  public  roads,  and  there  exercised,  and  checked  from  riot,  but  with  as 
little  severity  as  possible  ;  a  frequent  and  free  use  of  the  whip  never  being 
allowed.  No  animals  take  their  character  from  their  master  so  much  as 
the  hounds  do  from  theirs.  If  he  is  wild,  or  noisy,  or  nervous,  so  will  his 
hounds  be  ;  if  he  is  steady  and  quick,  the  pack  will  be  the  same.  The 
whip  should  never  be  applied  but  for  some  immediate  and  decided  fault. 
A  rate  given  at  an  improper  time  does  more  harm  than  good  :  it  disgusts 
the  honest  hound,  it  shies  and  prevents  from  hunting  the  timid  one,  and 
it  is  treated  with  contempt  by  those  of  another  character  who  may  at  some 
future  time  deserve  it.  It  formerly  was  the  custom,  and  still  is  too  much 
so,  when  a  hound  has  hung  on  a  hare,  to  catch  him  when  he  comes  up,  and 
flog  him.  The  consequence  of  this  is,  that  he  takes  good  care  the  next 
time  he  indulges  in  a  fault  not  to  come  out  of  cover  at  all. 

We  will  conclude  this  part  of  our  subject  by  a  short  account  of  the 
splendid  kennel  at  Goodwood,  for  which  we  are  indebted  to  Lord  W. 
Lennox,  with  the  kind  permission  of  the  Duke  of  Richmond.  It 
is  described  as  one  of  the  most  complete  establishments  of  the  kind  in 
England.  The  original  establishment  of  this  building,  although  a  little 
faulty,  possesses  considerable  interest  from  its  errors  being  corrected  by 
the  third  Duke  of  Richmond,  a  man  who  is  acknowledged  to  have  been 
one  of  the  most  popular  public  characters  of  the  day,  and  who  in  more 
private  life  extended  his  patronage  to  all  that  was  truly  honourable. 
It  was  to  the  Duke's  support  of  native  talent  that  we  may  trace  the  origin 
of  the  present  Royal  Academy.  In  1758,  the  Duke  of  Richmond  dis- 
played, at  his  residence  in  Whitehall,  a  large  collection  of  original  plaster 
casts,  taken  from  the  finest  statues  and  busts  of  the  ancient  sculptors. 
Every  artist  was  freely  admitted  to  this  exhibition  ;  and,  for  the  further  en- 
couragement of  talent,  he  bestowed  two  medals  annually  on  such  as  had 
exhibited  the  best  models. 

We  have  thus  digressed  in  order  to  give  a  slight  sketch  of  the  nobleman 
by  whom  this  kennel  was  built,  and  we  do  not  think  that  we  can  do  better 
than  lay  before  our  readers  the  original  account  of  it. 

Early  in  life  the  Duke  built  what  was  not  then  common,  a  tennis-court, 
and  what  was  more  uncommon,  a  dog-kennel,  which  cost  him  above 
6000/.  The  Duke  was  his  own  architect,  assisted  by,  and  under  the 
guidance  of,  Mr.  Wyatt ;  he  dug  his  own  flints,  burnt  his  own  lime,  and 
conducted  the  wood- work  in  his  own  shops.  The  result  of  his  labours  was 
the  noble  building  of  which  a  plan  is  here  given. 

The  dog-kennel  is  a  grand  object  when  viewed  from  Goodwood.  The 
front  is  handsome,  the  ground  well  raised  about  it,  and  the  general  effect 
good  ;  the  open  court  in  the  centre  adds  materially  to  the  noble  appear- 
ance of  the  building. 

The  entrance  to  the  kennel  is  delineated  in  the  centre  with  a  flight  of 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG. 


85 


86  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

steps  leading  above.  The  huntsman's  rooms,  four  in  number,  first  present 
themselves,  and  are  marked  in  the  plan  before  us  by  the  letter  C ;  each  of 
them  is  fifteen  feet  fourteen  inches,  by  fourteen  feet  six  inches. 

At  each  end  of  the  side  towards  the  court  is  one  of  the  feeding-rooms, 
twenty-nine  feet  by  fourteen  feet  four  inches,  and  nobly  constructed  rooms 
they  are ;  they  are  designated  by  the  letters  B.  At  the  back  of  the 
feeding-rooms,  are  one  set  of  the  lodging-rooms,  from  thirty-five  feet  six 
inches,  to  fourteen  feet  four  inches,  and  marked  by  the  letters  A,  and  at 
either  extremity  is  another  lodging-room,  thirty-two  feet  six  inches  in 
length,  and  fourteen  feet  six  inches  in  width  :  this  is  also  marked  by  the 
letter  A. 

Coming  into  the  court  we  find  the  store-room  twenty-four  feet  by  four- 
teen and  a  half,  marked  by  the  letter  D,  and  the  stable,  of  the  same  dimen- 
sions, by  the  letter  E. 

At  the  top  of  the  buildings  are  openings  for  the  admission  of  cold  air, 
and  stoves  to  warm  the  air  when  too  cold.  There  are  plentiful  supplies  of 
water  from  tanks  holding  10,000  gallons  ;  so  that  there  is  no  incon- 
venience from  the  smell,  and  the  whole  can  at  any  time  be  drained,  and 
not  be  rendered  altogether  useless. 

Round  the  whole  building  is  a  pavement  five  feet  wide ;  airy  yards  and 
places  for  breeding,  &c.,  making  part  of  each  wing.  For  the  huntsman 
and  whipper-in  there  are  sleeping-rooms,  and  a  neat  parlour  or  kitchen. 

Soon  after  the  kennel  was  erected,  it  would  contain  two  packs  of 
hounds. 

THE  STAG -HOUND. 

The  largest  of  the  English  hounds  that  has  been  lately  used,  is  de- 
voted, as  his  name  implies,  to  the  chace  of  the  deer.  He  is  taller  than 
the  fox-hound,  and  with  far  more  delicate  scent,  but  he  is  not  so  speedy. 
He  answers  better  than  any  other  to  the  description  given  of  the  old 
English  hound,  so  much  valued  when  the  country,  less  enclosed,  and  the 
forests,  numerous  and  extensive,  were  the  harbours  of  the  wild  deer.  The 
deer-hound  and  the  harrier  were  for  many  centuries  the  only  hunting-dogs. 
The  fox-hound  has  been  much  more  recently  bred. 

The  most  tyrannic  and  cruel  laws  were  enforced  for  the  preservation  of 
this  species  of  game,  and  the  life  of  the  deer,  except  when  sacrificed  in  the 
chace,  and  by  those  who  were  privileged  to  join  in  it,  was  guarded  with 
even  more  strictness  than  the  life  of  the  human  being.  When,  however, 
the  country  became  more  generally  cultivated,  and  the  stag  was  confined 
to  enclosed  parks,  and  was  seldom  sought  in  his  lair,  but  brought  into  the 
field,  and  turned  out  before  the  dogs,  so  much  interest  was  taken  from  the 
affair,  that  this  species  of  hunting  grew  out  of  fashion,  and  was  confined 
to  the  neighbourhood  of  the  scattered  forests  that  remained,  and  enjoyed 
only  by  royalty  and  a  few  noblemen,  of  whose  establishment  a  kennel  of 
deer-hounds  had,  from  time  immemorial,  formed  a  part. 

Since  the  death  of  George  III.,  who  was  much  attached  to  this  sport, 
stag-hunting  has  rapidly  declined,  and  the  principal  pleasure  seems  now  to 
consist  in  the  concourse  of  people  brought  together  to  an  appointed  place 
and  hour,  to  witness  the  turning  out  of  the  deer.  There  is  still  main- 
tained a  royal  establishment  for  the  continuance  of  this  noble  sport ;  but, 
unless  better  supported  than  it  has  of  late  years  been,  it  will  gradually 
decline. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  87 

The  stag-hounds  are  now  a  part  of  the  regular  Crown  establishment- 
The  royal  kennel  is  situated  upon  Ascot  Heath,  about  six  miles  from 
Windsor.  At  the  distance  of  a  mile  from  the  kennel  is  Swinley  Lodge, 
the  official  residence  of  the  Master  of  the  Stag-hounds. 

The  stag-hound  is  a  beautiful  animal.  He  is  distinguished  from  the 
fox-hound  by  the  apparent  broadness  and  shortness  of  his  head,  his  longer 
cheek,  his  straighter  hock,  his  wider  thigh  and  deeper  chest,  and  better 
feathered  and  more  beautifully  arched  tail.  His  appearance  indicates 
strength  and  stoutness,  in  which  indeed  he  is  unequalled,  and  he  has  suffi- 
cient speed  to  render  it  difficult  for  the  best  horses  long  to  keep  pace  with 
him ;  while,  as  is  necessary,  when  the  distance  between  the  footmarks  of 
the  deer  is  considered,  his  scent  is  most  exquisite.  He  is  far  seldomer 
at  fault  than  any  other  hound  except  the  blood-hound,  and  rarely  fails  of 
running  clown  his  game. 

Of  the  stoutness  of  tltls  dog,  the  following  anecdotes  will  be  a  sufficient 
illustration.  A  deer,  in  the  spring  of  1822,  was  turned  out  before  the 
Earl  of  Derby's  hounds  at  Hayes  Common.  The  chace  was  continued 
nearly  four  hours  without  a  check,  when,  being  almost  run  down,  the  ani- 
mal took  refuge  in  some  outhouses  near  Speldhurst  in  Kent,  more  than 
forty  miles  across  the  country,  and  having  actually  run  more  than  fifty  miles. 
Nearly  twenty  horses  died  in  the  field,  or  in  consequence  of  the  severity 
of  the  chace. 

A  stag  was  turned  out  at  Wingfield  Park,  in  Northumberland.  The 
whole  pack,  with  the  exception  of  two  hounds,  was,  after  a  long  run, 
thrown  out.  The  stag  returned  to  his  accustomed  haunt,  and,  as  his  last 
effort,  leaped  the  wall  of  the  park,  and  lay  down  and  died.  One  of  the 
hounds,  unable  to  clear  the  wall,  fell  and  expired,  and  the  other  was  found 
dead  at  a  little  distance.  They  had  run  about  forty  miles. 

When  the  stag  first  hears  the  cry  of  the  hounds,  he  runs  with  the  swift- 
ness of  the  wind,  and  continues  to  run  as  long  as  any  sound  of  his  pursuers 
can  be  distinguished.  That  having  ceased,  he  pauses  and  looks  carefully 
around  him ;  but  before  he  can  determine  what  course  to  pursue  the  cry  of 
the  pack  again  forces  itself  upon  his  attention.  Once  more  he  darts  away, 
and  after  a  while  again  pauses.  His  strength  perhaps  begins  to  fail,  and 
he  has  recourse  to  stratagem  in  order  to  escape.  He  practises  the  doubling 
and  the  crossing  of  the  fox  or  the  hare.  This  being  useless,  he  attempts 
to  escape  by  plunging  into  some  lake  or  river  that  happens  to  lie  in  his 
way,  and  when,  at  last,  every  attempt  to  escape  proves  abortive,  he  boldly 
faces  his  pursuers,  and  attacks  the  first  dog  or  man  who  approaches  him.a 


a  The  late  Lord  Orford  reduced  four  selves  to  the  utmost,  the  terrified  animals 
stags  to  so  perfect  a  degree  of  submission,  bounded  away  with  the  swiftness  of  light- 
that,  iu  his  short  excursions,  he  used  to  ning,  and  entered  Newmarket  at  full 
drive  them  in  a  phaeton  made  for  the  speed.  They  made  immediately  for  the 
purpose.  He  was  one  day  exercising  Ram  Inn,  to  which  his  lordship  was  in 
his  singular  and  beautiful  steeds  in  the  the  habit  of  driving,  and,  having  fortu- 
neighbourhood  of  Newmarket,  when  their  nately  entered  the  yard  without  atiy  acci- 
ears  were  saluted  with  the  unwelcome  cry  dent,  the  stable-keepers  huddled  his  lord- 
of  a  pack  of  hounds,  which,  crossing  the  ship,  the  phaeton,  and  the  deer  into  a  large 
road  in  their  rear,  had  caught  the  scent,  and  barn,  just  in  time  to  save  them  from  the 
leaving  their  original  object  of  pursuit,  hounds,  who  came  into  the  yard  in  full 
were  now  in  rapid  chace  of  the  frightened  cry  a  few  seconds  afterwards.— Annals  of 
stags.  In  vain  his  grooms  exerted  them-  Sporting,  vol.  iii.  1823. 


88 


SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 


THE  SOUTHERN  HOUND. 

There  used  to  be  in  the  south  of  Devon  a  pack  or  cry  of  the  genuine 
old  English  or  southern  hounds.  There  is  some  reason  to  believe  that  this 
was  the  original  stock  of  the  island,  or  of  this  part  of  the  island,  and  that 
this  hound  was  used  by  the  ancient  Britons  in  the  chace  of  the  larger  kinds 
of  game  with  which  the  country  formerly  abounded.  Its  distinguishing 
characters  are  its  size  and  general  heavy  appearance  ;  its  great  length  of 
body,  deep  chest,  and  ears  remarkably  large  and  pendulous.  The  tones  of 
its  voice  were  peculiarly  deep.  It  answered  the  description  of  Shakspere, — 

"  So  flewed,  so  sanded ;  and  their  heads  are  hung 
With  ears  that  sweep  away  the  morning  dew  ; 
Crook-knee'd,  and  dew-lapp'd,  like  Thessalian  bulls  ; 
Slow  in  pursuit,  but  match'd  in  mouth  like  bells, 
Each  under  each." 


THE   SOUTHERN    HOUND. 


It  was  the  slowness  of  the  breed  which  occasioned  its  disuse.  Several  of 
them,  however,  remained  not  long  ago  at  a  village  called  Aveton  Gif- 
ford,  in  Devonshire,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  which  some  of  the  most 
opulent  of  the  farmers  used  to  keep  two  or  three  dogs  each.  When  fox- 
hunting had  assumed  somewhat  of  its  modern  form,  the  chace  was  followed 
by  a  slow  heavy  hound,  whose  excellent  olfactory  organs  enabled  him  to 
carry  on  the  scent  a  considerable  time  after  the  fox-hound  passed,  and  also 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  89 

over  grassy  fallows,  and  hard  roads,  and  other  places,  where  the  modern 
high-bred  fox-hound  would  not  be  able  to  recognise  it.  Hence  the  chace 
continued  for  double  the  duration  which  it  does  at  present,  and  hence  may 
be  seen  the  reason  why  the  old  English  hunter,  so  celebrated  in  former 
days  and  so  great  a  favourite  among  sportsmen  of  the  old  school,  was  ena- 
bled to  perform  those  feats  which  were  exultirigly  bruited  in  his  praise. 
The  fact  is,  that  the  hounds  and  the  horse  were  well  matched.  If  the 
latter  possessed  not  the  speed  of  the  Meltonian  hunter,  the  hounds  were 
equally  slow  and  stanch. 

THE  BLOOD-HOUND. 

This  dog  does  not  materially  differ  in  appearance  from  the  old  deer- 
hound  of  a  larger  size,  trained  to  hunt  the  human  being  instead  of  the 
quadruped.  If  once  put  on  the  track  of  a  supposed  robber,  he  would  un- 
erringly follow  him  to  his  retreat,  although  at  the  distance  of  many  a  mile. 
Such  a  breed  was  necessary  when  neither  the  private  individual  nor  the 
government  had  other  means  to  detect  the  offender.  Generally  speaking, 
however,  the  blood-hound  of  former  days  would  not  injure  the  culprit  that 
did  not  attempt  to  escape,  but  would  lie  down  quietly  and  give  notice  by 
a  loud  and  peculiar  howl  what  kind  of  prey  he  had  found.  Some,  how- 
ever, of  a  savage  disposition,  or  trained  to  unnatural  ferocity,  would  tear 
to  pieces  the  hunted  wretch,  if  timely  rescue  did  not  arrive. 

Hounds  of  every  kind,  both  great  and  small,  may  be  broken  in  to  follow 
any  particular  scent,  and  especially  when  they  are  feelingly  convinced  that 
they  are  not  to  hunt  any  other.  This  is  the  case  with  the  blood-hound. 
He  is  destined  to  one  particular  object  of  pursuit,  and  a  total  stranger 
with  regard  to  every  other. 

In  the  border  country  between  England  and  Scotland,  and  until  the 
union  of  the  two  kingdoms,  these  dogs  were  absolutely  necessary  for  the 
preservation  of  property,  and  the  detection  of  robbery  and  murder.  A  tax 
was  levied  on  the  inhabitants  for  the  maintenance  of  a  certain  number  of 
blood-hounds.  When,  however,  the  civic  government  had  sufficient  power 
to  detect  and  punish  crime,  this  dangerous  breed  of  hounds  fell  into  disuse 
and  was  systematically  discouraged.  It,  nevertheless,  at  the  present  day, 
is  often  bred  by  the  rangers  in  large  forests  or  parks  to  track  the  deer- 
stealer,  but  oftener  to  find  the  wounded  deer. 

The  blood-hound  is  taller  and  better  formed  than  the  deer-hound.  It 
has  large  and  deep  ears,  the  forehead  broad  and  the  muzzle  narrow.  The 
expression  of  the  countenance  is  mild  and  pleasing,  when  the  dog  is  not 
excited  ;  but,  when  he  is  following  the  robber,  his  ferocity  becomes  truly 
alarming. 

The  Thrapstone  Association  lately  trained  a  blood-hound  for  the  detec- 
tion of  sheepstealers.  In  order  to  prove  the  utility  of  this  dog,  a  person 
whom  he  had  not  seen  was  ordered  to  run  as  far  and  as  fast  as  his  strength 
would  permit.  An  hour  afterwards  the  hound  was  brought  out.  He  was 
placed  on  the  spot  whence  the  man  had  started.  He  almost  immediately 
detected  the  scent  and  broke  away,  and,  after  a  chace  of  an  hour  and  a  half, 
found  him  concealed  in  a  tree,  fifteen  miles  distant. 

Mr.  John  Lawrence  says,  that  a  servant,  discharged  by  a  sporting  coun- 
try gentleman,  broke  into  his  stables  by  night,  and  cut  off  the  ears  and  tail 
of  a  favourite  hunter.  As  soon  as  it  was  discovered,  a  blood-hound  was 


90 


SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 


brought  into  the  stable,  who  at  once  detected  the  scent  of  the  miscreant, 
and  traced  it  more  than  twenty  miles.  He  then  stopped  at  a  door,  whence 
no  power  could  move  him.  Being  at  length  admitted,  he  ran  to  the  top 
of  the  house,  and,  bursting  open  the  door  of  a  garret,  found  the  object  that 
he  sought  in  bed,  and  would  have  torn  him  to  pieces,  had  not  the  hunts- 
man, who  had  followed  him  on  a  fleet  horse,  rushed  up  after  him. 

Somerville  thus  describes  the  use  to  which  he  was  generally  put,  in  pur- 
suit of  the  robber :  — 

"  Soon  the  sagacious  brute,  his  curling  tail 
Flourished  in  air,  low  bending,  plies  around 
His  busy  nose,  the  steaming  vapour  snuffs 
Inquisitive,  nor  leaves  one  turf  untried, 
Till,  conscious  of  the  recent  stains,  his  heart 
Beats  quick.     His  snuffing  nose,  his  active  tail, 
Attest  his  joy.     Then,  with  deep  opening  mouth, 
That  makes  the  welkin  tremble,  he  proclaims 
Th'  audacious  felon.     Foot  by  foot  he  marks 
His  winding  way.  Over  the  watery  ford, 
Dry  sandy  heaths,  and  stony  barren  hills, 
Unerring  he  pursues,  till  at  the  cot 
Arrived,  and,  seizing  by  his  guilty  throat 
The  caitiff  vile,  redeems  the  captive  prey." 

THE  SETTER 


is  evidently  the  large  spaniel  improved  to  his  peculiar  size  and  beauty, 
and  taught  another  way  of  marking  his  game,  viz.,  by  setting  or  crouch- 
ing. If  the  form  of  the  dog  were  not  sufficiently  satisfactory  on  this  point, 
we  might  have  recourse  to  history  for  information  on  it.  Mr.  Daniel,  in 
his  Rural  Sports,  has  preserved  a  document,  dated  in  the  year  1685,'  in 
which  a  yeoman  binds  himself  for  the  sum  of  ten  shillings,  fully  and 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  91 

effectually  to  teach  a  spaniel  to  sit  partridges  and  pheasants.  The  first 
person,  however,  who  systematically  broke-in  setting  dogs,  is  supposed  to 
have  been  Dudley  Duke  of  Northumberland,  in  1335. 

A  singular  dog-cause  was  tried  in  Westminster,  in  July,  1822.  At  a 
previous  trial  it  was  determined  that  the  mere  possession  of  a  dog,  gene- 
rally used  for  destroying  game,  was  sufficient  proof  of  its  being  actually  so 
used.  Mr.  Justice  Best,  however,  determined  that  a  man  might  be  a 
breeder  of  such  dogs  without  using  them  as  game-dogs ;  and  Mr.  Justice 
Bailey  thought  that  if  a  game-dog  was  kept  in  a  yard,  chained  up  by  day, 
and  let  loose  at  night,  and,  being  so  trained  as  to  guard  the  premises,  he 
was  to  be  considered  as  a  yard-dog,  and  not  as  a  game-dog. 

The  setter  is  used  for  the  same  purpose  as  the  pointer,  and  there  is  great 
difference  of  opinion  with  regard  to  their  relative  value  as  sporting-dogs. 
Setters  are  not  so  numerous  ;  and  they  are  dearer,  and  with  great  difficulty 
obtained  pure.  It  was  long  the  fashion  to  cross  and  mix  them  with  the 
pointer,  by  which  no  benefit  was  obtained,  but  the  beauty  of  the  dog 
materially  impaired  ;  many  Irish  sportsmen,  however,  were  exceedingly 
careful  to  preserve  the  breed  pure.  Nothing  of  the  pointer  can  be  traced 
in  them,  and  they  are  useful  and  beautiful  dogs,  altogether  different  in 
appearance  from  either  the  English  or  Scotch  setter.  The  Irish  sports- 
men are,  perhaps,  a  little  too  much  prejudiced  with  regard  to  particular 
colours.  Their  dogs  are  either  very  red,  or  red  and  white,  or  lemon- 
coloured,  or  white,  patched  with  deep  chestnut ;  and  it  was  necessary  for 
them  to  have  a  black  nose,  and  a  black  roof  to  the  mouth.  This  peculiar 
dye  is  supposed  to  be  as  necessary  to  a  good  and  genuine  Irish  setter  as  is 
the  palate  of  a  Blenheim  spaniel  to  the  purity  of  his  breed.  A  true  Irish 
setter  will  obtain  a  higher  price  than  either  an  English  or  Scotch  one. 
Fifty  guineas  constituted  no  unusual  price  for  a  brace  of  them,  and  even 
two  hundred  guineas  have  been  given.  It  is,  nevertheless,  doubtful 
whether  they  do  in  reality  so  much  exceed  the  other  breeds,  and  whether, 
although  stout  and  hard-working  dogs,  and  with  excellent  scent,  they 
are  not  somewhat  too  headstrong  and  unruly. 

The  setter  is  more  active  than  the  pointer.  He  has  greater  spirit  and 
strength.  He  will  better  stand  continued  hard  work.  He  will  generally 
take  the  water  when  necessary,  and,  retaining  the  character  of  the  breed, 
is  more  companionable  and  attached.  He  loves  his  master  for  himself, 
and  not,  like  the  pointer,  merely  for  the  pleasure  he  shares  with  him.  His 
somewhat  inferior  scent,  however,  makes  him  a  little  too  apt  to  run  into 
his  game,  and  he  occasionally  has  a  will  of  his  own.  He  requires  good 
breaking,  and  plenty  of  work  ;  but  that  breaking  must  be  of  a  peculiar 
character :  it  must  not  partake  of  the  severity  which  too  often  accom- 
panies, and  unnecessarily  so,  the  tuition  of  the  pointer.  He  has  more 
animal  spirit  than  the  pointer,  but  he  has  not  so  much  patient  courage  ;  and 
the  chastisement,  sometimes  unnecessary  and  cruel,  but  leaving  the  pointer 
perfect  in  his  work,  and  eager  for  it  too,  would  make  the  setter  disgusted 
with  it,  and  leave  him  a  mere  blinker.  It  is  difficult,  however,  always  to 
decide  the  claim  of  superiority  between  these  dogs.  He  that  has  a  good 
one  of  either  breed  may  be  content,  but  the  lineage  of  that  dog  must  be 
pure.  The  setter,  with  much  of  the  pointer  in  him,  loses  something  in 
activity  and  endurance  ;  and  the  pointer,  crossed  with  the  setter,  may  have  a 
degree  of  wildness  and  obstinacy,  not  a  little  annoying  to  his  owner.  The 
setter  may  be  preferable  when  the  ground  is  hard  and  rough ;  for  he 


92 


SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 


does  not  soon  become  foot-sore.  He  may  even  answer  the  purpose  of  a 
springer  for  pheasants  and  woodcocks,  and  may  be  valuable  in  recovering 
a  wounded  bird.  His  scent  may  frequently  be  superior  to  that  of  the 
pointer,  and  sufficiently  accurate  to  distinguish,  better  than  the  pointer, 
when  the  game  is  sprung ;  but  the  steadiness  and  obedience  of  the  pointer 
will  generally  give  him  the  preference,  especially  in  a  fair  and  tolerably 
smooth  country.  At  the  beginning  of  a  season,  and  when  the  weather 
is  hof ,  the  pointer  will  have  a  decided  advantage. 

Of  the  difference  between  the  old  English  setter  and  the  setters  of  the 
present  day,  we  confess  that  we  are  ignorant,  except  that  the  first  was  the 
pure  spaniel  improved,  and  the  latter  the  spaniel  crossed  too  frequently 
with  the  pointer. 

It  must  be  acknowledged,  that  of  companionableness,  and  disinterested 
attachment  and  gratitude,  the  pointer  knows  comparatively  little.  If  he 
is  a  docile  and  obedient  servant  in  the  field,  it  is  all  we  want.  The  setter 
is  unquestionably  his  superior  in  every  amiable  quality.  Mr.  Blaine  says, 
that  a  large  setter,  ill  with  the  distemper,  had  been  nursed  by  a  lady 
more  than  three  weeks.  At  length  he  became  so  ill  as  to  be  placed  in  a 
bed,  where  he  remained  a  couple  of  days  in  a  dying  state.  After  a  short 
absence,  the  lady,  re-entering  the  room,  observed  him  to  fix  his  eyes  atten- 
tively on  her,  and  make  an  effort  to  crawl  across  the  bed  towards  her. 
This  he  accomplished,  evidently  for  the  sole  purpose  of  licking  her  hand, 
after  which  he  immediately  expired. 

THE  POINTER. 


I . 


The  pointer  is  evidently  descended  from  the  hound.     It  is  the  fox-hound 
searching  for  game  by  the  scent,  but  more  perfectly  under  the  control  of 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  93 

the  sportsman,  repressing  his  cry  of  joy  when  he  finds  his  game,  and  his 
momentary  pause,  and  gathering  himself  up  in  order  to  spring  upon  it 
artificially,  converted  into  a  steady  and  deliberate  point.  There  still  re- 
mains a  strong  resemblance,  in  countenance  and  in  form,  between  the 
pointer  and  the  fox-hound,  except  that  the  muzzle  is  shorter,  and  the  ears 
smaller,  and  partly  pendulous. 

Seventy  or  eighty  years  ago,  the  breed  of  pointers  was  nearly  white, 
or  varied  with  liver-coloured  spots  ;  some,  however,  belonging  to  the  Duke 
of  Kingston,  were  perfectly  black.  This  peculiarity  of  colour  was  sup- 
posed to  be  connected  with  exquisite  perfection  of  scent.  That  is  not  the 
case  with  the  present  black  pointers,  who  are  not  superior  to  any  others. 

Mr.  Daniel  relates  an  anecdote  of  one  of  his  pointers.  He  had  a  dog 
that  would  always  go  round  close  to  the  hedges  of  a  field  before  he  would 
quarter  his  ground.  He  seemed  to  have  observed  that  he  most  frequently 
found  his  game  in  the  course  of  this  circuit." 

Mr.  Johnson  gives  the  following  characteristic  sketches  of  the  different 
breeds  of  pointer : — 

THE  SPANISH  POINTER, 

originally  a  native  of  Spain,  was  once  considered  to  be  a  valuable  dog. 
He  stood  higher  on  his  legs,  but  was  too  large  and  heavy  in  his  limbs,  and 
had  widely  spread,  ugly  feet,  exposing  him  to  frequent  lameness.  His 
muzzle  and  head  were  large,  corresponding  with  the  acuteness  of  his  smell. 
His  ears  were  large  and  pendent,  and  his  body  ill-formed.  He  was  natur- 
ally an  ill-ternpered  dog,  growling  at  the  hand  that  would  caress  him, 
even  although  it  were  his  master's.  He  stood  steadily  to  his  birds  ;  but  it 
was  difficult  to  break  him  of  chasing  the  hare.  He  was  deficient  in  speed. 
His  redeeming  quality  was  his  excellent  scent,  unequalled  in  any  other 
kind  of  dog. 

THE  PORTUGUESE  POINTER, 

although  with  a  slighter  form  than  the  Spanish  one,  is  defective  in  the 
feet,  often  crooked  in  the  legs,  and  of  a  quarrelsome  disposition.  He  soon 
tires,  and  is  much  inclined  to  chase  the  hare.  The  tail  is  larger  than  that 
of  the  spaniel,  and  fully  fringed. 

THE  FRENCH  POINTER 

is  distinguished  by  a  furrow  between  his  nostrils,  which  materially  interferes 
with  the  acuteness  of  smell.  He  is  better  formed  and  more  active  than 

a  The  author  of  The  Field  Book  says  small  dark-brown  spots  appeared  over  his 
that  he  saw  an  extremely  small  pointer,  whole  body  and  legs, 
whose  length,  from  the  tip  of  the  nose  to  This  beautiful  little  animal  had  an  ex- 
the  point  of  the  tail,  was  only  two  feet  and  quisite  sense  of  smell.  Some  of  the  same 
half  an  inch,  the  length  of  the  head  being  breed,  and  being  the  property  of  the  Earl 
six  inches,  and  round  the  chest  one  foot  of  Lauderdale,  were  broken-in  and  made 
and  three  inches.  He  was  an  exquisite  excellent  pointers,  although,  from  their 
miniature  of  the  English  pointer,  being  in  minute  size,  it  could  not  be  expected  that 
all  respects  similar  to  him,  except  in  his  they  would  be  able  to  do  much  work. 
size.  His  colour  was  white,  with  dark  When  intent  upon  any  object,  the  dog  as- 
liver-coloured  patches  on  each  side  of  the  sumed  the  same  attitude  as  other  pointers, 
head,  extending  half  down  the  neck.  The  holding  up  one  of  his  feet. — The  Field 
ears,  with  some  patches  on  the  back,  were  Book,  p.  399. 
also  of  the  same  colour,  and  numerous 


94  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

either  the  Spanish  or  Portuguese  dog,  and  capable  of  longer  continued 
exertion ;  but  he  is  apt  to  be  quarrelsome,  and  is  too  fond  of  chasing  the 
hare. 

THE  RUSSIAN  POINTER 

is  a  rough,  ill-tempered  animal,  with  too  much  tendency  to  stupidity,  and 
often  annoyed  by  vermin.  He  runs  awkwardly,  with  his  nose  near  the 
ground,  and  frequently  springs  his  game.  He  also  has  the  cloven  or 
divided  nose. 

THE    EARLY  TRAINING  OF  THE  DOG. 

The  education  of  these  dogs  should  commence  at  an  early  period,  whether 
conducted  by  the  breeder  or  the  sportsman ;  and  the  first  lesson — that  on 
which  the  value  of  the  animal,  and  the  pleasure  of  its  owner,  will  much 
depend — is  a  habit  of  subjection  on  the  part  of  the  dog,  and  kindness  on 
the  part  of  the  master.  This  is  a  sine  qua  non.  The  dog  must  recognise 
in  his  owner  a  friend  and  a  benefactor.  This  will  soon  establish  in  the 
mind  of  the  quadruped  a  feeling  of  gratitude,  and  a  desire  to  please.  All 
this  is  natural  to  the  dog,  if  he  is  encouraged  by  the  master,  and  then  the 
process  of  breaking-in  may  commence  in  good  earnest. 

No  long  time  probably  passes  ere  the  dog  commits  some  little  fault. 
He  is  careless,  or  obstinate,  or  cross.  The  owner  puts  on  a  serious  counte- 
nance, he  holds  up  his  finger,  or  shakes  his  head,  or  produces  the  whip, 
and  threatens  to  use  it.  Perhaps  the  infliction  of  a  blow,  that  breaks  no 
bones,  occasionally  follows.  In  the  majority  of  cases  nothing  more  is  re- 
quired. The  dog  succumbs ;  he  asks  to  be  forgiven  ;  or,  if  he  has  been 
self-willed,  he  may  be  speedily  corrected  without  any  serious  punishment. 

A  writer,  under  the  signature  of  "  Soho,"  in  The  New  Sporting  Maga- 
zine for  1833,  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  schooling  of  the  pointer 
or  setter,  thus  commenced.  A  short  abstract  from  it  may  not  be  unac- 
ceptable : — 

"  The  first  lesson  inculcated  is  that  of  passive  obedience,  and  this  enforced 
by  the  infliction  of  severity  as  little  as  the  case  will  admit.  We  will  sup- 
pose the  dog  to  be  a  setter.  He  is  taken  into  the  garden  or  into  a  field, 
and  a  strong  cord,  about  eighteen  or  twenty  yards  long,  is  tied  to  his  collar. 
The  sportsman  calls  the  dog  to  him,  looks  earnestly  at  him,  gently  presses 
him  to  the  ground,  and  several  times  with  a  loud,  but  not  an  angry  voice, 
says,  '  Down  !'  or  '  Down  charge  !'  The  dog  knows  not  the  meaning  of  this, 
and  struggles  to  get  up ;  but,  as  often  as  he  struggles,  the  cry  of  i  Down 
charge !'  is  repeated,  and  the  pressure  is  continued  or  increased. 

"  This  is  repeated  a  longer  or  shorter  time,  until  the  dog,  finding  that  no 
harm  is  meant,  quietly  submits.  He  is  then  permitted  to  rise  ;  he  is  patted 
and  caressed,  and  some  food  is  given  to  him.  The  command  to  rise  is 
also  introduced  by  the  terms  '  Hie  up  !'  A  little  afterwards  the  same  pro- 
cess is  repeated,  and  he  struggles  less,  or  perhaps  ceases  altogether  to 
struggle. 

"  The  person  whose  circumstances  permit  him  occasionally  to  shoot  over 
his  little  demesne,  may  very  readily  educate  his  dog  without  having  re- 
course to  keepers  or  professional  breakers,  among  whom  he  would  often  be 
subject  to  imposition.  Generally  speaking,  no  dog  is  half  so  well  broken 
as  the  one  whose  owner  has  taken  the  trouble  of  training  him.  The  first 
and  grand  thing  is  to  obtain  the  attachment  of  the  dog,  by  frequently  feed- 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  95 

ing  and  caressing  him,  and  giving  him  little  hours  of  liberty  under  his 
own  inspection  ;  but,  every  now  and  then,  inculcating  a  lesson  of  obedience, 
teaching  him  that  every  gambol  must  be  under  the  control  of  his  master ; 
frequently  checking  him  in  the  midst  of  his  riot  with  the  order  of '  Down 
charge  !'  patting  him  when  he  is  instantly  obedient ;  and  rating,  or  castiga- 
ting him,  but  not  too  severely,  when  there  is  any  reluctance  to  obey.  Passive 
obedience  is  the  Jirst  principle,  and  from  which  no  deviation  should  be 
allowed* 

"  Much  kindness  and  gentleness  are  certainly  requisite  when  breaking-in 
the  puppy,  whether  it  be  a  pointer  or  a  setter.  There  is  heedlessness  in 
the  young  dog  which  is  not  readily  got  rid  of  until  age  has  given  him  ex- 
perience. He  must  not,  however,  be  too  severely  corrected,  or  he  may  be 
spoiled  for  life.  If  considerable  correction  is  sometimes  necessary,  it  should 
be  followed,  at  a  little  distance  of  time,  by  some  kind  usage.  The  memory 
of  the  suffering  will  remain  ;  but  the  feeling  of  attachment  to  the  master 
will  also  remain,  or  rather  be  increased.  The  temper  of  a  young  dog  must 
be  almost  as  carefully  studied  as  that  of  a  human  being.  Timidity  may  be 
encouraged,  and  eagerness  may  be  restrained,  but  affection  must  be  the 
tie  that  binds  him  to  his  master,  and  renders  him  subservient  to  his  will. 

"  The  next  portion  of  the  lesson  is  more  difficult  to  learn.  He  is  no  longer 
held  by  his  master,  but  suffered  to  run  over  the  field,  seemingly  at  his 
pleasure,  when,  suddenly,  comes  the  warning  *  Down  !'  He  perhaps  pays 
no  attention  to  it,  but  gambols  along  until  seized  by  his  master,  forced  on 
the  ground,  and  the  order  of  '  Down !'  somewhat  sternly  uttered. 

"  After  a  while  he  is  suffered  again  to  get  up.  He  soon  forgets  what  has 
occurred,  and  gallops  away  with  as  much  glee  as  ever.  Again  the  '  Down  !' 
is  heard,  and  again  little  or  no  attention  is  paid  to  it.  His  master  once  more 
lays  hold  of  him  and  forces  him  on  the  ground,  and  perhaps  inflicts  a  slight 
blow  or  two,  and  this  process  continues  until  the  dog  finds  that  he  must  obey 
the  command  of  '  Down  charge  !' 

"  The  owner  will  now  probably  walk  from  him  a  little  way  backward  with 
his  hand  lifted  up.  If  the  dog  makes  the  slightest  motion,  he  must  be 
sharply  spoken  to,  and  the  order  peremptorily  enforced. 

"  He  must  then  be  taught  to  '  back,'  that  is,  to  come  behind  his  master 
when  called.  When  he  seems  to  understand  all  this,  he  is  called  by  his 
master  in  a  kindly  tone  and  patted  and  caressed.  It  is  almost  incredible 
how  soon  he  will  afterwards  understand  what  he  is  ordered  to  do,  and  per- 
form it. 

"  It  will  be  seen  by  this  that  no  one  should  attempt  to  break-in  a  dog 
who  is  not  possessed  of  patience  and  perseverance.  The  sportsman  must 
not  expect  to  see  a  great  deal  of  improvement  from  the  early  lessons.  The 
dog  will  often  forget  that  which  was  inculcated  upon  him  a  few  hours  be- 
fore ;  but  perseverance  and  kindness  will  effect  much  :  the  first  lessons  over, 
the  dog,  beginning  to  perceive  a  little  what  is  meant,  will  cheerfully 
and  joyfully  do  his  duty. 

"  When  there  is  much  difficulty  in  teaching  the  dog  his  lesson,  the  fault 
lies  as  often  with  the  master  as  with  him  ;  or  they  are,  generally  speaking, 
both  in  fault.  Some  dogs  cannot  be  mastered  but  by  means  of  frequent 
correction.  The  less  the  sportsman  has  to  do  with  them  the  better.  Others 

*•  Another  writer  in  the  same  volume  gives  also  an  interesting  account  of  the 
management  of  the  setter. 


96  SECOND  DIVISION  OF  THE 

will  not  endure  the  least  correction,  but  become  either  ferocious  or  sulky. 
They  should  be  disposed  of  as  soon  as  possible.  The  majority  of  dogs  are 
exceedingly  sagacious.  They  possess  strong  reasoning  powers  ;  they  un- 
derstand, by  intuition,  almost  every  want  and  wish  of  their  master,  and 
they  deserve  the  kindest  and  best  usage. 

"  The  scholar  being  thus  prepared,  should  be  taken  into  the  field,  either 
alone  or,  what  is  considerably  better,  with  a  well-trained,  steady  dog. 
When  the  old  dog  makes  a  point,  the  master  calls  out, '  Down  !'  or  *  Soho  !' 
and  holds  up  his  hand,  and  approaches  steadily  to  the  birds  ;  and,  if  the  young 
one  runs  in  or  prepares  to  do  so,  as  probably  he  will  at  first,  he  again 
raises  his  hand  and  calls  out,  '  Soho  !'  If  the  youngster  pays  no  attention 
to  this,  the  whip  must  be  used,  and  in  a  short  time  he  will  be  steady  enough 
at  the  first  intimation  of  game. 

"  If  he  springs  any  birds  without  taking  notice  of  them,  he  should  be 
dragged  to  the  spot  from  which  they  rose,  and,  '  Soho !"  being  cried,  one 
or  two  sharp  strokes  with  the  whip  should  be  inflicted.  If  he  is  too  eager, 
he  should  be  warned  to  '  take  heed.'  If  he  rakes  or  runs  with  his  nose 
near  the  ground,  he  should  be  admonished  to  hold  up,  and,  if  he  still  per- 
sists, the  muzzle-peg  may  be  resorted  to.  Some  persons  fire  over  the 
dog  for  running  at  hares:  but  this  is  wrong ;  for,  beside  the  danger  of 
wounding  or  even  killing  the  animal,  he  will  for  some  time  afterwards  be 
frightened  at  the  sound,  or  even  at  the  very  sight  of  a  gun.  The  best  plan 
to  accustom  dogs  to  the  gun,  is  occasionally  to  fire  one  off  when  they  are 
being  fed. 

"Some  persons  let  their  dog  fetch  the  dead  birds.  This  is  very  wrong. 
Except  the  sportsman  has  a  double-barrelled  gun,  the  dog  should  not  be 
suffered  to  move  until  the  piece  is  again  charged.  The  young  one,  until 
he  is  thoroughly  broken  of  it,  is  too  apt  to  run-in  whether  the  bird  is  killed 
or  not,  and  which  may  create  much  mischief  by  disturbing  the  game. 

"  Although  excessive  punishment  should  not  be  administered,  yet  no  fault, 
however  small,  should  pass  without  reproof:  on  the  other  hand,  he  should 
be  rewarded,  but  not  too  lavishly,  for  every  instance  of  good  conduct. 

"  When  the  dog  is  grown  tolerably  steady,  and  taught  to  come  at  the  call, 
he  should  also  learn  to  range  and  quarter  his  ground.  Let  some  clear 
morning,  and  some  place  where  the  sportsman  is  likely  to  meet  with  game, 
be  selected.  Station  him  where  the  wind  will  blow  in  his  face ;  wave  your 
hand  and  cry,  '  Heigh  on,  good  dog !'  Then  let  him  go  off  to  the  right, 
about  seventy  or  eighty  yards.  After  this,  call  him  in  by  another  wave  of 
the  hand,  and  let  him  go  the  same  distance  to  the  left.  Walk  straight  for- 
ward with  your  eye  always  upon  him ;  then,  let  him  continue  to  cross  from 
right  to  left,  calling  him  in  at  the  limit  of  each  range. 

"  This  is  at  first  a  somewhat  difficult  lesson,  and  requires  careful  teaching. 
The  same  ground  is  never  to  be  twice  passed  over.  The  sportsman  watches 
every  motion,  and  the  dog  is  never  trusted  out  of  sight,  or  allowed  to  break 
fence.  When  this  lesson  is  tolerably  learned,  and  on  some  good  scenting 
morning  early  in  the  season  he  may  take  the  field,  and  perhaps  find.  Pro- 
bably he  will  be  too  eager,  and  spring  his  game.  Make  him  down  imme- 
diately, and  take  him  to  the  place  where  the  birds  rose.  Chide  him  with 
*  Steady  !'  *  How  dare  you  !'  Use  no  whip ;  but  scold  him  well,  and  be 
assured  that  he  will  be  more  cautious.  If  possible,  kill  on  the  next  chance. 
The  moment  the  bird  is  down,  he  will  probably  rush  in  and  seize  it.  He 
must  be  met  with  the  same  rebuff,  l  Down  charge  !'  If  he  does  not  obey,  he 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  97 

deserves  to  have,  and  will  have,  a  stroke  with  the  whip.  The  gun  being 
again  charged,  the  bird  is  sought  for,  and  the  dog  is  suffered  to  see  it  and 
play  with  it  for  a  minute  before  it  is  put  into  the  bag. 

"  He  will  now  become  thoroughly  fond  of  the  sport,  and  his  fondness  will 
increase  with  each  bird  that  is  killed.  At  every  time,  however,  whether 
he  kills  or  misses,  the  sportsman  should  make  the  dog  l  Down  charge,' 
and  never  allow  him  to  rise  until  he  has  loaded. 

"  If  a  hare  should  be  wounded,  there  will,  occasionally,  be  considerable 
difficulty  in  preventing  him  from  chasing  her.  The  best  broken  and 
steadiest  dog  cannot  always  be  restrained  from  running  hares.  He  must 
be  checked  with  '  Ware  chase,' 'and,  if  he  does  not  attend,  the  sportsman 
must  wait  patiently.  He  will  by-and-by  come  slinking  along  with  his 
tail  between  his  legs,  conscious  of  his  fault.  It  is  one,  however,  that  admits 
of  no  pardon.  He  must  be  secured,  and,  while  the  field  echoes  with  the  cry 
of '  Ware  chasej  he  must  be  punished  to  a  certain  but  not  too  great  ex- 
tent. The  castigation  must  be  repeated  as  often  as  he  offends ;  or,  if  there 
is  much  difficulty  in  breaking  him  of  the  habit,  he  must  be  got  rid  of." 

The  breaking-in  or  subjugation  of  pointers  and  setters  is  a  very  im- 
portant, and  occasionally  a  difficult  affair  ;  the  pleasure  of  the  sportsman, 
however,  depends  upon  it.  The  owner  of  any  considerable  property  will 
naturally  look  to  his  keeper  to  furnish  him  with  dogs  on  which  he  may 
depend,  and  he  ought  not  to  be  disappointed ;  for  those  which  belong 
to  other  persons,  or  are  brought  at  the  beginning  of  the  season,  whatever 
account  the  breaker  or  the  keeper  of  them  may  give,  will  too  often 
be  found  deficient. 

THE  OTTER  HOUND 

used  to  be  of  a  mingled  breed,  between  the  southern  hound  and  the 
rough  terrier,  and  in  size  between  the  harrier  and  the  fox-hound.  The 
head  should  be  large  and  broad,  the  shoulders  and  quarters  thick,  and  the 
hair  strong,  wiry,  and  rough.  They  used  to  be  kept  in  small  packs,  for 
the  express  purpose  of  hunting  the  otter. 

Two  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  otter-hunting  was  a  favourite  amuse- 
ment in  several  parts  of  Great  Britain.  Many  of  our  streams  then  abounded 
with  this  destructive  animal ;  but,  since  the  population  of  our  country  has 
become  more  dense,  and  game-keepers  are  more  numerous,  and  many 
contrivances  are  adopted  to  ensnare  and  destroy  otters,  few  are  now  to  be 
found. 

THE  TURNSPIT. 

This  dog  was  once  a  valuable  auxiliary  in  the  kitchen,  by  turning  the 
spit  before  jacks  were  invented.  It  had  a  peculiar  length  of  body,  with 
short  crooked  legs,  the  tail  curled,  its  ears  long  and  pendent,  and  the 
head  large  in  proportion  to  the  body.  It  is  still  used  in  the  kitchen  on 
various  parts  of  the  Continent.  There  are  some  curious  stories  of  the 
artfulness  with  which  he  often  attempted  to  avoid  the  task  imposed  upon 
him. 

There  is  a  variety  of  this  dog ;  the  crooked-legged  turnspit. 


98 


THIRD  DIVISION  OF  THE 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE  VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG THIRD  DIVISION. 

The  muzzle  more  or  less  shortened,  the  frontal  sinus  enlarged,  and  the 
cranium  elevated  and  diminished  in  capacity. 

AT  the  head  of  this  inferior  or  brutal  division  of  dogs  stands 


THE  BULL-DOG. 


The  round,  thick  head,  turned-up  nose,  and  thick  and  pendulous  lips  of 
this  dog  are  familiar  to  all,  while  his  ferocity  makes  him  in  the  highest 
degree  dangerous.  In  general  he  makes  a  silent  although  ferocious  attack, 
and  the  persisting  powers  of  his  teeth  and  jaws  enable  him  to  keep  his  hold 
against  any  but  the  greatest  efforts,  so  that  the  utmost  mischief  is  likely 
to  ensue  as  well  to  the  innocent  visitor  of  his  domicile  as  the  ferocious  in- 
truder. The  bull-dog  is  scarcely  capable  of  any  education,  and  is  fitted 
for  nothing  but  ferocity  and  combat 

The  name  of  this  dog  is  derived  from  his  being  too  often  employed, 
until  a  few  years  ago,  in  baiting  the  bull.  It  was  practised  by  the  low 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  99 

and  dissolute  in  many  parts  of  the  country.  Dogs  were  bred  and  trained 
for  the  purpose ;  and,  while  many  of  them  were,injured  or  destroyed,  the 
head  of  the  bull  was  lacerated  in  the  most  barbarous  manner.  Nothing 
can  exceed  the  fury  with  which  the  bull-dog1  rushed  on  his  foe,  and  the 
obstinacy  with  which  he  maintained  his  hold.  He  fastened  upon  the  lip, 
the  muzzle,  or  the  eye,  and  there  he  hung  in  spite  of  every  effort  of  the 
bull  to  free  himself  from  his  antagonist. 

Bull-dogs  are  not  so  numerous  as  they  were  a  few  years  ago  ;  and  every 
kind-hearted  person  will  rejoice  to  hear  that  bull-baiting  is  now  put  down 
by  legal  authority  in  every  part  of  the  kingdom. 

THE  BULL-TERRIER. 

This  dog  is  a  cross  between  the  bull-dog  and  the  terrier,  and  is  gene- 
rally superior,  both  in  appearance  and  value,  to  either  of  its  progenitors. 
A  second  cross  considerably  lessens  the  underhanging  of  the  lower  jaw, 
and  a  third  entirely  removes  it,  retaining  the  spirit  and  determination  of 
the  animal.  It  forms  a  steadier  friendship  than  either  of  them,  and  the 
principal  objection  to  it  is  its  love  of  wanton  mischief,  and  the  dangerous 
irascibility  which  it  occasionally  exhibits. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  a  warm  friend  of  dogs,  and  whose  veracity  cannot  be 
impeached,  gives  an  interesting  account  of  a  favourite  one  belonging  to 
him.  "  The  cleverest  dog  I  ever  had  was  what  is  called  a  bull-dog  terrier. 
I  taught  him  to  understand  a  great  many  words,  insomuch  that  I  am 
positive  the  communication  between  the  canine  species  and  ourselves  might 
be  greatly  enlarged.  Camp,  the  name  of  my  dog,  once  bit  the  baker  when 
bringing  bread  to  the  family.  I  beat  him,  and  explained  the  enormity  of 
the  offence  ;  after  which,  to  the  last  moment  of  his  life,  he  never  heard  the 
least  allusion  to  the  story  without  creeping  into  the  darkest  corner  of  the 
room.  Towards  the  end  of  his  life,  when  he  was  unable  to  attend  me  while 
I  was  on  horseback,  he  generally  watched  for  my  return,  and,  when  the 
servant  used  to  tell  him,  his  master  was  coming  down  the  hill,  or  through 
the  moor,  although  he  did  not  use  any  gesture  to  explain  his  meaning, 
Camp  was  never  known  to  mistake  him,  but  either  went  out  at  the  front 
to  go  up  the  hill,  or  at  the  back  to  get  down  to  the  moor*side." 

THE  MASTIFF. 

The  head  considerably  resembles  that  of  the  bull-dog,  but  with  the  ears 
dependent.  The  upper  lip  falls  over  the  lower  jaw.  The  end  of  the  tail 
is  turned  up,  and  frequently  the  fifth  toe  of  the  hind  feet  is  more  or  less 
developed.  The  nostrils  are  separated  one  from  another  by  a  deep  fur- 
row. He  has  a  grave  and  somewhat  sullen  countenance,  and  his  deep- 
toned  bark  is  often  heard  during  the  night.  The  mastiff  is  taller  than  the 
bull-dog,  but  not  so  deep  in  the  chest,  and  his  head  is  large  compared  with 
his  general  form. 

It  is  probable  that  the  mastiff  is  an  original  breed  peculiar  to  the 
British  islands. 

He  seems  to  be  fully  aware  of  the  impression  which  his  large  size  makes 
on  every  stranger  ;  and,  in  the  night  especially,  he  watches  the  abode  of  his 
master  with  the  completest  vigilance ;  in  fact,  nothing  would  tempt  him  to 
betray  the  confidence  which  is  reposed  in  him. 

H  ». 


100 


THIRD  DIVISION  OF  THE 


Captain  Brown  states  that,  "  notwithstanding  his  commanding  appear- 
ance and  the  strictness  with  which  he  guards  the  property  of  his  master, 
he  is  possessed  of  the  greatest  mildness  of  conduct,  and  is  as  grateful  for 
any  favours  bestowed  upon  him  as  is  the  most  diminutive  of  the  canine 
tribe.  There  is  a  remarkable  and  peculiar  warmth  in  his  attachments. 
He  is  aware  of  all  the  duties  required  of  him,  and  he  punctually  discharges 
them.  In  the  course  of  the  night  he  several  times  examines  every  thing 
with  which  he  is  intrusted  with  the  most  scrupulous  care,  and,  by  repeated 
barkings,  warns  the  household  or  the  depredator  that  he  is  at  the  post  of 
duty."' 


THE    MASTIFF. 


The  mastiff  from  Cuba  requires  some  mention,  and  will  call  up  some  of 
the  most  painful  recollections  in  the  history  of  the  human  race.  He  was 
riot  a  native  of  Cuba,  but  imported  into  the  country. 

The  Spaniards  had  possessed  themselves  of  several  of  the  South  American 
islands.  They  found  them  peopled  with  Indians,  arid  those  of  a  sensual, 
brutish,  and  barbarous  class — continually  making  war  with  their  neigh- 
bours, indulging  in  an  irreconcilable  hatred  of  the  Spaniards,  and  deter- 
mined to  expel  and  destroy  them.  In  self-defence,  they  were  driven  to  some 
means  of  averting  the  destruction  with  which  they  were  threatened.  They 
procured  some  of  these  mastiffs,  by  whose  assistance  they  penetrated  into 

*  Brown's  Biographical  Sketches,  p.  425. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG.  101 

every  part  of  the  country,  and  destroyed  the  greater  portion  of  the  former 
inhabitants. 

Las  Casas,  a  Catholic  priest,  and  whose  life  was  employed  in  endeavouring 
to  mitigate  the  sufferings  of  the  original  inhabitants,  says  that  "  it  was  re- 
solved to  march  against  the  Indians,  who  had  fled  to  the  mountains,  and 
they  were  chased  like  wild  beasts,  with  the  assistance  of  bloodhounds,  who 
had  been  trained  to  a  thirst  for  human  blood,  so  that  before  I  had  left  the 
island  it  had  become  almost  entirely  a  desert." 

THE  ICELAND  DOG. 

The  head  is  rounder  than  that  of  the  northern  dogs ;  the  ears  partly  erect 
and  partly  pendent ;  and  the  fur  soft  and  long,  especially  behind  the  fore 
legs  and  on  the  tail.  It  much  resembles  the  Turkish  dog  removed  to  a 
colder  climate. 

This  dog  is  exceedingly  useful  to  the  Icelanders  while  travelling  over  the 
snowy  deserts  of  the  north.  By  a  kind  of  intuition  he  rarely  fails  in  choosing 
the  shortest  and  the  safest  course.  He  also  is  more  aware  than  his  master 
of  the  approach  of  the  snow  storms  ;  and  is  a  most  valuable  ally  against  the 
attack  of  the  Polar  bear,  who,  drifted  on  masses  of  ice  from  the  neigh- 
bouring continent,  often  commits  depredations  among  the  cattle,  and  even 
attacks  human  beings.  When  the  dog  is  first  aware  of  the  neighbourhood 
of  the  bear,  he  sets  up  a  fearful  howl,  and  men  and  dogs  hasten  to  hunt 
down  and  destroy  the  depredator. 

The  travelling  in  Iceland  is  sometimes  exceedingly  dangerous  at  the 
beginning  of  the  winter.  A  thin  layer  of  snow  covers  and  conceals  some 
of  the  chasms  with  which  that  region  abounds.  Should  the  traveller  fall 
into  one  of  them,  the  dog  proves  a  most  useful  animal ;  for  he  runs  imme- 
diately across  the  snowy  waste,  and,  by  his  howling,  induces  the  traveller's 
friends  to  hasten  to  his  rescue. 

THE  TERRIER. 

The  forehead  is  convex  ;  the  eye  prominent ;  the  muzzle  pointed  ;  the 
tail  thin  and  arched  ;  the  fur  short ;  the  ears  of  moderate  size,  half  erect, 
and  usually  of  a  deep-black  colour,  with  a  yellow  spot  over  the  eyes.  It 
is  an  exceedingly  useful  animal ;  but  not  so  indispensable  [an  accompani- 
ment to  a  pack  of  fox-hounds  as  it  used  to  be  accounted.  Foxes  are  not 
so  often  unearthed  as  they  formerly  were,  yet  many  a  day's  sport  would  be 
lost  without  the  terrier.  Some  sportsmen  used  to  have  two  terriers  accom- 
panying in  the  pack,  one  being  smaller  than  the  other.  This  was  a  very 
proper  provision ;  a  large  terrier  might  be  incapable  of  penetrating  into 
the  earth,  and  a  small  one  might  permit  the  escape  of  the  prey.  Many 
terriers  have  lost  their  lives  by  scratching  up  the  earth  behind  them,  and 
thus  depriving  themselves  of  all  means  of  retreat. 

The  coat  of  the  terrier  may  be  either  smooth  or  rough  ;  the  smooth-haired 
ones  are  more  delicate  in  appearance,  and  are  somewhat  more  exposed  to 
injury  or  accident ;  but  in  courage,  sagacity,  and  strength,  there  is  very 
little  difference  if  the  dogs  are  equally  well  bred.  The  rough  terrier  pos- 
sibly obtained  his  shaggy  coat  from  the  cur,  and  the  smooth  terrier  may 
derive  his  from  the  hound. 

The  terrier  is  seldom  of  much  service  until  he  is  twelve  months  old ;  and 


102  THIRD  DIVISION  OF  THE 

then,  incited  by  natural  propensity,  or  the  example  of  the  older  ones,  or 
urged  on  by  the  huntsman,  he  begins  to  discharge  his  supposed  duty. 

An  old  terrier  is  brought  to  the  mouth  of  the  earth  in  which  a  vixen  fox 
— a  fox  with  her  young  ones — has  taken  up  her  abode,  and  is  sent  in  to 
worry  and  drive  her  out.  Some  young  terriers  are  brought  to  the  mouth 
of  the  hover,  to  listen  to  the  process  that  is  going  forward  within,  and  to 
be  excited  to  the  utmost  extent  of  which  they  are  capable.  The  vixen  is 
at  length  driven  out,  and  caught  at  the  mouth  of  the  hole  ;  and  the  young 
ones  are  suffered  to  rush  in,  and  worry  or  destroy  their  first  prey.  They 
want  no  after-tuition  to  prepare  them  for  the  discharge  of  their  duty. 

This  may  be  pardoned.  It  is  the  most  ready  way  of  training  the 
young  dog  to  his  future  business ;  but  it  is  hoped  that  no  reader  of  this  work 
will  be  guilty  of  the  atrocities  that  are  often  practised.  An  old  fox,  or 
badger,  is  caught,  his  under  jaw  is  sawn  off,  and  the  "lower  teeth  are  for- 
cibly extracted,  or  broken.  A  hole  is  then  dug  in  the  earth,  or  a  barrel 
is  placed  large  and  deep  enough  to  permit  a  terrier,  or  perhaps  two  of  them, 
to  enter.  Into  this  cavity  the  fox  or  badger  is  thrust,  and  a  terrier  rushes 
after  him,  and  drags  him  out  again.  The  question  to  be  ascertained  is, 
how  many  times  in  a  given  period  the  dog  will  draw  this  poor  tortured 
animal  out  of  the  barrel — an  exhibition  of  cruelty  which  no  one  should  be 
able  to  lay  to  the  charge  of  any  human  being.  It  is  a  principle  not  to  be 
departed  from,  that  wanton  and  useless  barbarity  should  never  be  per- 
mitted. The  government,  to  a  certain  extent,  has  interfered,  and  a  noble 
society  has  been  established  to  limit,  or,  if  possible,  to  prevent  the  infliction 
of  useless  pain. 

The  terrier  is,  however,  a  valuable  dog,  in  the  house  and  the  farm.  The 
stoat,  the  pole-cat,  and  the  weazel,  commit  great  depredations  in  the  fields, 
the  barn,  and  granary ;  and  to  a  certain  extent,  the  terrier  is  employed  in 
chasing  or  destroying  them  ;  but  it  is  not  often  that  he  has  a  fair  chance  to 
attack  them.  He  is  more  frequently  used  in  combating  the  rat. 

The  mischief  effected  by  rats  is  almost  incredible.  It  has  been  said  that, 
in  some  cases,  in  the  article  of  corn,  these  animals  consume  a  quantity  of 
food  equal  in  value  to  the  rent  of  the  farm.  Here  the  dog  is  usefully  em- 
ployed, and  in  his  very  element,  especially  if  there  is  a  cross  of  the  bull-dog 
about  him. 

There  are  some  extraordinary  accounts  of  the  dexterity,  as  well  as 
courage,  of  the  terrier  in  destroying  rats.  The  feats  of  a  dog  called  "  Billy" 
will  be  long  remembered.  He  was  matched  to  destroy  one  hundred  large 
rats  in  eight  and  a  half  minutes.  The  rats  were  brought  into  the  ring  in 
bags,  and,  as  soon  as  the  number  was  complete,  he  was  put  over  the  rail- 
ing. In  six  minutes  and  thirty-five  seconds  they  were  all  destroyed.  In 
another  match  he  destroyed  the  same  number  in  six  minutes  and  thirteen 
seconds.  At  length,  when  he  was  getting  old,  and  had  but  two  teeth  and 
one  eye  left,  a  wager  was  laid  of  thirty  sovereigns,  by  the  owner  of  a 
Berkshire  bitch,  that  she  would  kill  fifty  rats  in  less  time  than  Billy.  The 
old  dog  killed  his  fifty  in  five  minutes  and  six  seconds.  The  pit  was  then 
cleared,  and  the  bitch  let  in.  When  she  had  killed  thirty  rats,  she  was 
completely  exhausted,  fell  into  a  fit,  and  lay  barking  and  yelping,  utterly 
incapable  of  completing  her  task. 

The  speed  of  the  terrier  is  very  great.  One  has  been  known  to  run  six 
miles  in  thirty-two  minutes.  He  needs  to  be  a  fleet  dog  if,  with  his  com- 
paratively little  bulk,  he  can  keep  up  with  the  foxhound. 


VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG. 


103 


A  small  breed  of  wry -legged  terriers  was  once  in  repute,  and,  to  a  certain 
degree,  is  retained  for  the  purpose  of  hunting  rabbits.  It  probably  origi- 
nated in  some  ricketty  specimens,  remarkable  for  the  slow  development  of 
their  frame,  except  in  the  head,  the  belly,  and  the  joints,  which  enlarge  at 
the  expense  of  the  other  parts. 


THE  SCOTCH  TERRIER. 


There  is  reason  to  believe  that  this  dog  is  far  older  than  the  English 
terrier.  There  are  three  varieties  :  first,  the  common  Scotch  terrier, 
twelve  or  thirteen  inches  high  ;  his  body  muscular  and  compact — consider- 
able breadth  across  the  loins — the  legs  shorter  and  stouter  than  those  of  the 
English  terriers.  The  head  large  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  body — 
the  muzzle  small  and  pointed — strong  marks  of  intelligence  in  the  counte- 
nance— warm  attachment  to  his  master,  and  the  evident  devotion  of  every 
power  to  the  fulfilment  of  his  wishes.  The  hair  is  long  and  tough,  and 
extending  over  the  whole  of  the  frame.  In  colour,  they  are  black  or 
fawn  :  the  white,  yellow,  or  pied  are  always  deficient  in  purity  of  blood. 

Another  species  has  nearly  the  same  conformation,  but  is  covered  with 
longer,  more  curly,  and  stouter  hair ;  the  legs  being  apparently,  but  not 
actually,  shorter.  This  kind  of  dog  prevails  in  the  greater  part  of  the 
Western  Islands  of  Scotland,  and  some  of  them,  where  the  hair  has  ob- 
tained its  full  development,  are  much  admired. 

Her  Majesty  had  one  from  Islay,  a  faithful  and  affectionate  creature, 
yet  with  all  the  spirit  and  determination  that  belongs  to  his  breed.  The 
writer  of  this  account  had  occasion  to  operate  on  this  poor  fellow,  who 


104         THIRD  DIVISION  OF  THE  VARIETIES  OF  THE  DOG. 

had  been  bitten  under  somewhat  suspicious  circumstances.  He  submitted 
without  a  cry  or  a  struggle,  and  seemed  to  be  perfectly  aware  that  we 
should  not  put  him  to  pain  without  having  some  good  purpose  in  view. 

A  third  species  of  terrier  is  of  a  considerably  larger  bulk,  and  three  or 
four  inches  taller  than  either  of  the  others.  Its  hair  is  shorter  than  that 
of  the  other  breeds,  and  is  hard  and  wiry. 

THE     SHOCK-DOG 

is  traced  by  Buffon,  but  somewhat  erroneously,  to  a  mixture  of  the  small 
Danish  dog  and  the  pug.  The  head  is  round,  the  eyes  large,  but  some- 
what concealed  by  its  long  and  curly  hair,  the  tail  curved  and  bent 
forward.  The  muzzle  resembles  that  of  the  pug.  It  is  of  a  small  size, 
and  is  used  in  this  country  and  on  the  Continent  as  a  lap-dog.  It  is  very 
properly  described  by  the  author  of  "  The  Field  Book"  as  a  useless  little 
animal,  seeming  to  possess  no  other  quality  than  that  of  a  faithful  attach- 
ment to  his  mistress. 

THE  ARTOIS  DOG, 

with  his  short,  flat  muzzle,  is  a  produce  of  the  shock-dog  and  the  pug.  He 
has  nothing  peculiar  to  recommend  him. 

THE  ANDALUSIAN,  OR  ALICANT  DOG, 
has  the  short  muzzle  of  the  pug  with  the  long  hair  of  the  spaniel. 

THE  EGYPTIAN  AND  BARBARY  DOG, 

according  to  Cuvier,  has  a  very  thick  and  round  head,  the  ears  erect  at 
the  base,  large  and  moveable,  and  carried  horizontally ;  the  skin  nearly 
naked,  and  black  or  dark-flesh  colour,  with  large  patches  of  brown.  A 
sub-variety  has  a  kind  of  mane  behind  the  head,  formed  of  long  stiff  hairs. 
Buffon  imagines  that  the  shepherd's  dog — transported  to  different  cli- 
mates, and  acquiring  different  habits — was  the  ancestor  of  the  various  species 
with  which  almost  every  country  abounds  ;  but  whence  they  originally 
came  it  is  impossible  to  say.  They  vary  in  their  size,  their  colour,  their 
attitude,  their  usual  exterior,  and  their  strangely  different  interior  con- 
struction. Transported  into  various  climates,  they  are  necessarily  sub- 
mitted to  the  influence  of  heat  and  cold,  and  of  food  more  or  less  abundant 
and  more  or  less  suitable  to  their  natural  organization ;  but  the  reason  or 
the  derivation  of  these  differences  of  structure  it  is  not  always  easy  to 
explain. 


GOOD  QUALITIES  OF  THE  DOG.  105 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  GOOD  QUALITIES  OF  THE  DOG  ;  THE  SENSE  OF  SMELL  ;  INTELLI- 
GENCE ;  MORAL  QUALITIES  ;  DOG-CARTS  ;  CROPPING  ;  TAILING ; 
BREAKING-IN  ;  DOG-PITS  ;  DOG-STEALING. 

IN  our  history  of  the  different  breeds  of  the  dog  we  have  seen  enough  to 
induce  us  to  admire  and  love  him.  His  courage,  his  fidelity,  and  the 
degree  in  which  he  often  devotes  every  power  that  he  possesses  to  our  ser- 
vice, are  circumstances  that  we  can  never  forget  nor  overlook.  His  very 
foibles  occasionally  attach  him  to  us.  We  may  select  a  pointer  for  the 
pureness'  of  his  blood  and  the  perfection  of  his  education.  He  transgresses 
in  the  field.  We  call  him  to  us  ;  we  scold  him  well ;  perchance,  we  chastise 
him.  He  lies  motionless  and  dumb  at  our  feet.  The  punishment  being 
over,  he  gets  up,  and,  by  some  significant  gesture,  acknowledges  his  con- 
sciousness of  deserving  what  he  has  suffered.  The  writer  operated  on 
a  pointer  bitch  for  an  enlarged  cancerous  tumour,  accompanied  by  much 
inflammation  and  pain  in  the  surrounding  parts.  A  word  or  two  of  kind- 
ness and  of  caution  were  all  that  were  necessary,  although,  in  order  to 
prevent  accidents,  she  had  been  bound  securely.  The  flesh  quivered  as  the 
knife  pursued  its  course — a  moan  or  two  escaped  her,  but  yet  she  did  not 
struggle ;  and  her  first  act,  after  all  was  over,  was  to  lick  the  operator's 
hand. 

From  the  combination  of  various  causes,  the  history  of  no  animal  is 
more  interesting  than  that  of  the  dog.  First,  his  intimate  association  with 
man,  not  only  as  a  valuable  protector,  but  as  a  constant  and  faithful  com- 
panion throughout  all  the  vicissitudes  of  life.  Secondly,  from  his  natural 
endowments,  not  consisting  in  the  exquisite  delicacy  of  one  individual  sense 
— not  merely  combining  memory  with  reflection — but  possessing  qualities  of 
the  mind  that  stagger  us  in  the  contemplation  of  them,  and  which  we  can 
alone  account  for  in  the  gradation  existing  in  that  wonderful  system  which, 
by  different  links  of  one  vast  chain,  extends  from  the  first  to  the  last  of 
all  things  until  it  forms  a  perfect  whole  on  the  wonderful  confines  of  the 
spiritual  and  material  world. 

We  here  quote  the  beautiful  account  of  Sir  Walter  Scott  and  his  dogs, 
as  described  by  Henry  Hallam  : — 

"  But  looking  towards  the  grassy  mound 
Where  calm  the  Douglas  chieftains  lie, 
Who,  living,  quiet  never  found, 
I  straightway  learnt  a  lesson  high  ; 
For  there  an  old  man  sat  serene, 
And  well  I  knew  that  thoughtful  mien 
Of  him  whose  early  lyre  had  thrown 
O'er  mouldering  walls  the  magic  of  its  tone. 

It  was  a  comfort,  too,  to  see 

Those  dogs  that  from  him  ne'er  would  rove, 

And  always  eyed  him  reverently, 

With  glances  of  depending  love. 


106  GOOD  QUALITIES  OF  THE  DOG. 

They  know  not  of  the  eminence 

Which  marks  him  to  my  reasoning  sense ; 

They  know  but  that  he  is  a  man, 

And  still  to  them  is  kind,  and  glads  them  all  he  can. 

And  hence  their  quiet  looks  confiding  ; 

Hence  grateful  instincts,  seated  deep, 

By  whose  strong  bond,  were  ill  betiding, 

They'd  lose  their  own,  his  life  to  keep. 

What  joy  to  watch  in  lower  creature 

Such  dawning  of  a  moral  nature, 

Arid  how  (the  rule  all  things  obey) 

They  look  to  a  higher  mind  to  be  their  law  and  stay  !" 

The  subject  of  the  intellectual  and  moral  qualities  of  the  inferior  animals 
is  one  highly  interesting  and  somewhat  misunderstood — urged  perhaps  to 
a  ridiculous  extent  by  some  persons,  yet  altogether  neglected  by  others  who 
have  no  feeling  for  any  but  themselves. 

Anatomists  have  compared  the  relative  bulk  of  the  brain  in  different 
animals,  and  the  result  is  not  a  little  interesting.  In  man  the  weight  of 
the  brain  amounts  on  the  average  to  l-30th  part  of  the  body.  In  the 
Newfoundland  dog  it  does  not  amount  to  l-60th  part,  or  to  1 -100th  part  in 
the  poodle  and  barbet,  and  not  to  more  than  1 -300th  part  in  the  ferocious 
and  stupid  bull-dog. 

When  the  brain  is  cut,  it  is  found  to  be  composed  of  two  substances, 
essentially  different  in  construction  and  function — the  cortical  and  the 
medullary.  The  first  is  small  in  quantity,  and  principally  concerned  in  the 
food  and  reproduction  of  the  animal,  and  the  cineritious  in  a  great  measure 
the  register  of  the  mind.  Brute  strength  seems  to  be  the  character  of  the 
former,  and  superior  intelligence  of  the  latter.  There  is,  comparing  bulk 
with  bulk,  less  of  the  medullary  substance  in  the  horse  than  in  the  ox — and 
in  the  dog  than  in  the  horse — and  they  are  characterized  as  the  sluggish 
ox,  the  intelligent  horse,  and  the  intellectual  and  companionable  dog. 

From  the  medullary  substance  proceed  certain  cords  or  prolongations, 
termed  nerves,  by  which  the  animal  is  enabled  to  receive  impressions  from 
surrounding  objects  and  to  connect  himself  with  them,  and  also  to  possess 
many  pleasurable  or  painful  sensations.  One  of  them  is  spread  over  the 
membrane  of  the  nose,  arid  gives  the  sense  of  smell ;  another  expands  on 
the  back  of  the  eye,  and  the  faculty  of  sight  is  gained ;  a  third  goes  to  the 
internal  structure  of  the  ear,  and  the  animal  is  conscious  of  sound.  Other 
nerves,  proceeding  to  different  parts,  give  the  faculty  of  motion,  while  an 
equally  important  one  bestows  the  power  of  feeling.  One  division,  spring- 
ing from  a  prolongation  of  the  brain,  and  yet  within  the  skull,  wanders  to 
different  parts  of  the  frame,  for  important  purposes  connected  with  respira- 
tion or  breathing.  The  act  of  breathing  is  essential  to  life,  and  were  it  to 
cease,  the  animal  would  die. 

There  are  other  nerves — the  sympathetic — so  called  from  their  union  and 
sympathy  with  all  the  others,  and  identified  with  life  itself.  They  proceed 
from  a  small  ganglion  or  enlargement  in  the  upper  part  of  the  neck,  or  from 
a  collection  of  minute  ganglia  within  the  abdomen.  They  go  to  the  heart, 
and  it  beats ;  and  to  the  stomach,  and  it  digests.  They  form  a  net-work 
round  each  vessel,  and  the  frame  is  nourished  and  built  up.  They  are  desti- 
tute of  sensation,  and  they  are  perfectly  beyond  the  control  of  the  will. 

We  have  been  accustomed,  and  properly,  to  regard  the  nervous  system, 
or  that  portion  of  it  which  is  connected  with  animal  life — that  which  ren- 


INTELLIGENCE.  107 

ders  us  conscious  of  surrounding  objects  and  susceptible  of  pleasure  and  of 
pain — as  the  source  of  intellectual  power  and  moral  feeling.  It  is  so  with 
ourselves.  All  our  knowledge  is  derived  from  our  perception  of  things 
around  us.  A  certain  impression  is  made  on  the  outward  fibres  of  a  sen- 
sitive nerve.  That  impression,  in  some  mysterious  way,  is  conveyed  to  the 
brain  ;  and  there  it  is  received— registered — stored — and  compared  ;  there 
its  connexions  are  traced  and  its  consequences  appreciated  ;  and  thence 
a  variety  of  interesting  impressions  are  conveyed  and  due  use  is  made  of 
them. 

THE  SENSE  OF  SMELL. 

Our  subject — the  intellectual  and  moral  feelings  of  brutes,  and  the  me- 
chanism on  which  they  depend — may  be  divided  into  two  parts,  the  portion 
that  receives  and  conveys,  and  that  which  stores  up  and  compares  and  uses 
the  impression. 

The  portion  that  receives  and  conveys  is  far  more  developed  in  the 
brute  than  in  the  human  being.  Whatever  sense  we  take  we  clearly  per- 
ceive the  triumph  of  animal  power. 

The  olfactory  nerve  in  the  horse,  the  dog,  the  ox,  and  the  swine,  is  the 
largest  of  all  the  cerebral  nerves,  and  has  much  greater  comparative 
bulk  in  the  quadruped  than  in  the  human  being.  The  sense  of  smell 
bearing  proportion  to  the  nerve  on  which  it  depends,  is  yet  more  acute. 
In  man  it  is  connected  with  pleasure — in  the  inferior  animals  with 
life.  The  relative  size  of  the  nerve  bears  an  invariable  proportion  to  the 
necessity  of  an  acute  sense  of  smell  in  the  various  animals — large  in  the 
horse  compared  with  the  olfactory  nerve  in  the  human  being — larger 
in  the  ox,  who  is  often  sent  into  the  fields  to  shift  for  himself — larger 
still  in  the  swine,  whose  food  is  buried  under  the  soil,  or  deeply  immersed 
in  the  filth  or  refuse, — and  still  larger  in  the  dog,  the  acuteness  of  whose 
scent  is  so  connected  with  our  pleasure. 

INTELLIGENCE. 

We  find  little  mention  of  insanity  in  the  domesticated  animals  in  any  of 
our  modern  authors,  whether  treating  on  agriculture,  horsemanship,  or 
veterinary  medicine,  and  yet  there  are  some  singular  and  very  interesting 
cases  of  aberration  of  intellect.  The  inferior  animals  are,  to  a  certain 
extent,  endowed  with  the  same  faculties  as  ourselves.  They  are  even  sus- 
ceptible of  the  same  moral  qualities.  Hatred,  love,  fear,  hope,  joy, 
distress,  courage,  timidity,  jealousy,  and  many  varied  passions  influence 
and  agitate  them,  as  they  do  the  human  being.  The  dog  is  an  illustra- 
tion of  this — the  most  susceptible  to  every  impression — approaching  the 
nearest  to  man  in  his  instincts,  and  in  many  actions  that  surprise  the 
philosopher,  who  justly  appreciates  it. 

What  eagerness  to  bite  is  often  displayed  by  the  dog  when  labouring 
under  enteritis,  and  especially  by  him  who  has  imbibed  the  poison  of 
rabies !  How  singular  is  the  less  dangerous  malady  which  induces  the 
horse  and  the  dog  to  press  unconsciously  forward  under  the  influence  of 
vertigo ! — the  eagerness  with  which,  when  labouring  under  phrenitis,  he 
strikes  at  every  thing  with  his  foot,  or  rushes  upon  it  to  seize  it  with 
his  teeth  !  A  kind  of  nostalgia  is  often  recognised  in  that  depression  which 
nothing  can  dissipate,  and  the  invincible  aversion  to  food,  by  means 


108  GOOD  QUALITIES  OF  THE  DOG. 

of  which  many  animals  perish,  who  are  prevented  from  returning  to  the 
place  where  they  once  lived,  and  the  localities  to  which  they  had  been 
accustomed. 

These  are  circumstances  proving  that  the  dog  is  endowed  with  intelligence 
and  with  affections  like  ours ;  and,  if  they  do  not  equal  ours,  they  are  of 
the  same  character. 

"With. regard  to  the  foundation  of  intellectual  power,  viz.,  attention, 
memory,  association,  and  imagination,  the  difference  between  man  and 
animals  is  in  degree,  and  not  in  kind.  Thus  stands  the  account, — with  the 
quadruped  as  well  as  the  biped, — the  impression  is  made  on  the  mind ; 
attention  fixes  it  there ;  memory  recurs  to  it ;  imagination  combines  it, 
rightly  or  erroneously,  with  many  other  impressions ;  judgment  deter- 
mines the  value  of  it,  and  the  conclusions  that  are  to  be  drawn  from 
it,  if  not  with  logical  precision,  yet  with  sufficient  accuracy  for  every 
practical  purpose. 

A  bitch,  naturally  ill-tempered,  and  that  would  not  suffer  a  stranger  to 
touch  her,  had  scirrhous  enlargement  on  one  of  her  teats.  As  she  lay  in 
the  lap  of  her  mistress,  an  attempt  was  repeatedly  made  to  examine  the 
tumour,  in  spite  of  many  desperate  attempts  on  her  part  to  bite.  All  at 
once,  however,  something  seemed  to  strike  her  mind.  She  whined,  wagged 
her  tail,  and  sprung  from  the  lap  of  her  mistress  to  the  ground.  It  was  to 
crouch  at.  the  feet  of  the  surgeon,  and  to  lay  herself  down  and  expose  the 
tumour  to  his  inspection.  She  submitted  to  a  somewhat  painful  examina- 
tion of  it,  and  to  a  far  more  serious  operation  afterwards.  Some  years 
passed  away,  and  whenever  she  saw  the  operator,  she  testified  her  joy  and 
her  gratitude  in  the  most  expressive  and  endearing  manner. 

A  short  time  since,  the  following  scene  took  place  in  a  street  adjoining 
Hanover-square.  It  was  an  exhibition  of  a  highly  interesting  character, 
and  worthy  to  be  placed  upon  record.  The  editor  of  the  Lancet  having 
heard  that  a  French  gentleman  (M.  Leonard),  who  had  for  some  time 
been  engaged  in  instructing  two  dogs  in  various  performances  that  re- 
quired the  exercise,  not  merely  of  the  natural  instincts  of  the  animal  and 
the  power  of  imitation,  but  of  a  higher  intellect,  and  a  degree  of  reflection 
and  judgment  far  greater  than  is  commonly  developed  in  the  dog,  was 
residing  in  London,  obtained  an  introduction,  and  was  obligingly  favoured 
by  M.  Leonard  with  permission  to  hold  a  conversazione  with  his  extraordi- 
nary pupils.  He  thus  describes  the  interview  : — 

Two  fine  dogs,  of  the  Spanish  breed,  were  introduced  by  M.  Leonard, 
with  the  customary  French  politesse,  the  largest  by  the  name  of  M. 
Philax,  the  other  as  M.  Brae  (or  spot)  ;  the  former  had  been  in  training 
three,  the  latter  two,  years.  They  were  in  vigorous  health,  and,  having 
bowed  very  gracefully,  seated  themselves  on  the  hearth-rug  side  by  side. 
M.  Leonard  then  gave  a  lively  description  of  the  means  he  had  employed 
to  develop  the  cerebral  system  in  these  animals — how,  from  having  been 
fond  of  the  chace,  and  ambitious  of  possessing  the  best-trained  dogs,  he 
had  employed  the  usual  course  of  training — how  the  conviction  had  been 
impressed  on  his  mind,  that  by  gentle  usage,  and  steady  perseverance  in 
inducing  the  animal  to  repeat  again  and  again  what  was  required,  not 
only  would  the  dog  be  capable  of  performing  that  specific  act,  but  that 
part  of  the  brain  which  was  brought  into  activity  by  the  mental  effort 
would  become  more  largely  developed,  and  hence  a  permanent  increase  of 
mental  power  be  obtained. 


INTELLIGENCE.  109 

This  reasoning  is  in  accordance  with  the  known  laws  of  the  physiology 
of  the  nervous  system,  and  is  fraught  with  the  most  important  results. 
We  may  refer  the  reader  interested  in  the  subject  to  the  masterly  little 
work  of  Dr.  Verity,  "  Changes  produced  in  the  Nervous  System  by 
Civilization." 

After  this  introduction,  M.  Leonard  spoke  to  his  dogs  in  French,  in 
his  usual  tone,  and  ordered  one  of  them  to  walk,  the  other  to  lie  down,  to 
run,  to  gallop,  halt,  crouch,  &c.,  which  they  performed  as  promptly  and 
correctly  as  the  most  docile  children.  Then  he  directed  them  to  go 
through  the  usual  exercises  of  the  manege,  which  they  performed  as  well 
as  the  best  trained  ponies  at  Astley's. 

He  .next  placed  six  cards  of  different  colours  on  the  floor,  and,  sitting 
with  his  back  to  the  dogs,  directed  one  to  pick  up  the  blue  card,  and  the 
other  the  white,  &c.,  varying  his  orders  rapidly,  and  speaking  in  such  a 
manner  that  it  was  impossible  the  dogs  could  have  executed  his  commands 
if  they  had  not  had  a  perfect  knowledge  of  the  words.  For  instance,  M. 
Leonard  said,  "  Philax,  take  the  red  card  and  give  it  to  Brae ;  and,  Brae, 
take  the  white  card  and  give  it  to  Philax  ;"  the  dogs  instantly  did  this,  and 
exchanged  cards  with  each  other.  He  then  said,  "  Philax,  put  your  card 
on  the  green,  and  Brae,  put  yours  on  the  blue;"  and  this  was  instantly 
performed.  Pieces  of  bread  and  meat  were  placed  on  the  floor,  with 
figured  cards,  and  a  variety  of  directions  were  given  to  the  dogs,  so  as  to 
put  their  intelligence  and  obedience  to  a  severe  test.  They  brought  the 
meat,  bread,  or  cards,  as  commanded,  but  did  not  attempt  to  eat  or  to 
touch  unless  ordered.  Philax  was  then  ordered  to  bring  a  piece  of  meat 
and  give  it  to  Brae,  and  then  Brae  was  told  to  give  it  back  to  Philax,  who 
was  to  return  it  to  its  place.  Philax  was  next  told  he  might  bring  a  piece 
of  bread  and  eat  it ;  but,  before  he  had  time  to  swallow  it,  his  master  for- 
bade him,  and  directed  him  to  show  that  he  had  not  disobeyed,  and  the  dog 
instantly  protruded  the  crust  between  his  lips. 

While  many  of  these  feats  were  being  performed,  M.  Leonard  snapped 
a  whip  violently,  to  prove  that  the  animals  were  so  completely  under  disci- 
pline, that  they  would  not  heed  any  interruption. 

After  many  other  performances,  M.  Leonard  invited  a  gentleman  to 
play  a  game  of  dominos  with  one  of  them.  The  younger  and  slighter 
dog  then  seated  himself  on  a  chair  at  the  table,  and  the  writer  and  M. 
Leonard  seated  themselves  opposite.  Six  dominos  were  placed  on  their 
edges  in  the  usual  manner  before  the  dog,  and  a  like  number  before  the 
writer.  The  dog  having  a  double  number,  took  one  up  in  his  mouth,  and 
put  it  in  the  middle  of  the  table ;  the  writer  placed  a  corresponding  piece 
on  one  side  ;  the  dog  immediately  played  another  correctly,  and  so  on  until 
all  the  pieces  were  engaged.  Other  six  dominos  were  then  given  to  each, 
and  the  writer  intentionally  placed  a  wrong  number.  The  dog  looked  sur- 
prised, stared  very  earnestly  at  the  writer,  growled,  and  finally  barked 
angrily.  Finding  that  no  notice  was  taken  of  his  remonstrances,  he 
pushed  away  the  wrong  domino  with  his  nose,  and  took  up  a  suitable  one 
from  his  own  pieces,  and  placed  it  in  its  stead.  The  writer  then  played 
correctly  ;  the  dog  followed,  and  won  the  game.  Not  the  slightest  inti- 
mation could  have  been  given  by  M.  Leonard  to  the  dog.  This  mode  of 
play  must  have  been  entirely  the  result  of  his  own  observation  and  judg- 
ment. It  should  be  added  that  the  performances  were  strictly  private. 
The  owner  of  the  dogs  was  a  gentleman  of  independent  fortune,  and  the 


110  MORAL  QUALITIES  OF  THE  DOG. 

instruction  of  his  dogs  had  been  taken  up  merely  as  a  curious  and  amusing 
investigation.* 

Another  strange  attainment  of  the  dog  is  the  learning  to  speak.  The 
French  Academicians  mention  one  of  these  animals  that  could  call  in  an 
intelligible  manner  for  tea,  coffee,  chocolate,  &c.  The  account  is  given 
by  the  celebrated  Leibnitz,  who  communicated  it  to  the  Royal  Academy  of 
France.  This  dog  was  of  a  middling  size,  and  was  the  property  of  a 
peasant  in  Saxony. 

A  little  boy,  a  peasant's  son,  imagined  that  he  perceived  in  the  dog's 
voice  an  indistinct  resemblance  to  certain  words,  and  therefore  took  it 
into  his  head  to  teach  him  to  speak.  For  this  purpose  he  spared  neither 
time  nor  pains  with  his  pupil,  who  was  about  three  years  old  when  his 
learned  education  commenced,  and  in  process  of  time  he  was  able  to  articu- 
late no  fewer  than  thirty  distinct  words.  He  was,  however,  somewhat  of 
a  truant,  and  did  not  very  willingly  exert  his  talent,  and  was  rather  pressed 
than  otherwise  into  the  service  of  literature.  It  was  necessary  that  the 
words  should  be  pronounced  to  him  each  time,  and  then  he  repeated  them 
after  his  preceptor.  Leibnitz  attests  that  he  heard  the  animal  talk  in  this 
way,  and  the  French  Academicians  add,  that  unless  they  had  received  the 
testimony  of  so  celebrated  a  person  they  would  scarcely  have  dared  to 
report  the  circumstance.  It  took  place  in  Misnia,  in  Saxony. 

THE  MORAL  QUALITIES  OF  THE  DOG. 

We  pass  on  to  another  division  of  our  subject,  the  moral  qualities  of 
the  dog,  strongly  developed  and  beautifully  displayed,  and  often  putting 
the  biped  to  shame. 

It  is  truly  said  of  the  dog  that  he  possesses 

"  Many  a  good 

And  useful  quality,  and  virtue  too. 
Attachment  never  to  be  weaned  or  changed 
By  any  change  of  fortune  ;  proof  alike 
Against  unkindness,  absence,  and  neglect ; 
Fidelity,  that  neither  bribe  nor  threat 
Can  move  or  warp  ;  and  gratitude,  for  small 
And  trivial  favours,  lasting  as  the  life, 
And  glistening  even  in  the  dying  eye." 

It  may  here  be  noticed  that,  among  the  inferior  animals  with  large 
nerves  and  more  medullary  substance,  there  are  acuter  senses  ;  but  man, 
excelling  them  in  the  general  bulk  of  his  brain,  and  more  particularly  in 
the  cortical  portion  of  it,  has  far  superior  powers  of  mind.  These  are 
circumstances  that  deserve  the  deepest  consideration.  In  their  wild  state 
the  brutes  have  no  concern — no  idea  beyond  their  food  and  their  reproduc- 
tion. In  their  domesticated  state,  they  are  doomed  to  be  the  servants  of 
man.  Their  power  of  mind  is  sufficient  to  qualify  them  for  this  service  ; 
but  were  proportionate  intellectual  capacity  added  to  this — were  they  made 
conscious  of  their  strength,  and  of  the  objects  that  could  be  effected  by  it 

a  Plutarch  relates  that,  at  the  theatre  of  tors  with  astonishment.  He  first  exhi- 
Marcellus,  a  dog  was  exhibited  before  the  bited  various  symptoms  of  pain ;  he  then 
emperor  Vespasian,  so  well  instructed  as  fell  down  as  if  dead,  and,  afterwards  seem- 
to  exercise  in  every  kind  of  dance.  He  ing  to  revive,  as  if  waking  from  a  pro- 
afterwards  feigned  illness  in  a  most  sin-  found  sleep,  and  then  sported  about  and 
gular  manner,  so  as  to  strike  the  specta-  showed  various  demonstrations  of  joy. 


DOG-CARTS.  Ill 

— they  would  burst  their  bonds,  and  man  would  in  his  turn  be  the  victim 
and  the  slave. 

There  is  an  important  faculty,  termed  attention.  It  is  that  which 
distinguishes  the  promising  pupil  from  him  of  whom  no  good  hope  could 
be  formed,  and  the  scientific  man  from  the  superficial  and  ignorant  one. 
The  power  of  keeping  the  mind  steadily  bent  upon  one  purpose  is  the  great 
secret  of  individual  and  moral  improvement.  We  see  the  habit  of  atten- 
tion carried  in  the  dog  to  a  very  considerable  extent.  The  terrier  eagerly 
watching  for  vermin  —  the  sporting  dog  standing  stanch  to  his  point, 
however  he  may  be  annoyed  by  the  blunders  of  his  companion  or  the  un- 
skilfulness  of  his  master — the  foxhound,  insensible  to  a  thousand  scents, 
and  deaf  to  every  other  sound,  while  he  anxiously  and  perseveringly 
searches  out  the  track  of  his  prey — these  are  striking  illustrations  of  the 
power  of  attention. 

Then,  the  impression  having  been  received,  and  the  mind  having  been 
employed  in  its  examination,  it  is  treasured  up  in  the  storehouse  of  the 
mind  for  future  use. 

This  is  the  faculty  of  memory,  and  a  most  important  one  it  is.  Of  the 
memory  of  the  dog,  and  the  recollection  of  kindness  received,  there  are 
a  thousand  stories,  from  the  return  of  Ulysses  to  the  present  day,  and  we 
have  seen  enough  of  that  faithful  animal  to  believe  most  of  them.  An 
officer  was  abroad  with  his  regiment,  during  the  American  war.  He  had 
a  fine  Newfoundland  dog,  his  constant  companion,  whom  he  left  with 
his  family.  After  the  lapse  of  several  years  he  returned.  His  dog  met 
him  at  the  door  ;  leaped  upon  his  neck,  licked  his  face,  and  died. 

Of  the  accuracy  and  retentiveness  of  memory  in  the  dog,  as  respects 
the  instruction  he  has  received  from  his  master,  we  have  abundant  proof 
in  the  pointer  and  the  hound,  and  it  may  perhaps  be  with  some  of  them, 
as  with  men,  that  the  lesson  must  sometimes  be  repeated,  and  even  im- 
pressed on  the  memory  in  a  way  not  altogether  pleasant. 

DOG-CARTS. 

These  were,  and  still  are  in  the  country,  connected  with  many  an  act  of 
atrocious  cruelty.  We  do  not  object  to  the  dog  as  a  beast  of  draught.  He 
is  so  in  the  northern  regions,  and  he  is  as  happy  as  any  other  animal  in 
those  cold  and  inhospitable  countries.  He  is  so  in  Holland,  and  he  is  as 
comfortable  there  as  any  other  beast  that  wears  the  collar.  He  is  not  so  in 
Newfoundland  :  there  he  is  shamefully  treated.  It  is  to  the  abuse  of  the 
thing,  the  poor,  and  half-starved  condition  of  the  animal ;  the  scandalous 
weight  that  he  is  made  to  draw,  and  the  infamous  usage  to  which  he  is  ex- 
posed, that  we  object.  We  would  put  him  precisely  on  the  same  footing  with 
the  horse,  and  then  we  should  be  able,  perhaps,  to  afford  him,  not  all  the 
protection  we  could  wish,  but  nearly  as  much  as  we  have  obtained  for  the 
horse.  We  would  have  every  cart  licensed,  not  for  the  sake  of  adding  to 
the  revenue,  but  of  getting  at  the  owner ;  and  therefore  the  taxing  need 
not  be  any  great  sum.  We  would  have  the  cart  licensed  for  the  carrying 
of  goods  only ;  or  a  separate  licence  taken  out  if  it  carried  or  drew  a 
human  being. 

It  is  here  that  the  cruelty  principally  exists.  Before  the  dog-carts  were 
put  down  in  the  metropolis,  we  then  saw  a  man  and  a  woman  in  one  of 
these  carts,  drawn  by  a  single  dog,  and  going  at  full  trot.  Every  passenger 


1 1 2  CROPPING — TAILING. 

execrated  them,  and  the  trot  was  increased  to  a  gallop,  in  order  the  more 
speedily  to  escape  the  just  reproaches  that  proceeded  from  every  mouth. 
We  would  have  the  name  and  address  of  the  owner,  and  the  number  of 
the  cart,  painted  on  some  conspicuous  part  of  the  vehicle,  and  in  letters 
and  figures  as  large  as  on  the  common  carts.  Every  passenger  who  wit- 
nessed any  flagrant  act  of  cruelty  would  then  be  enabled  to  take  the  number 
of  the  cart,  and  summon  the  owner ;  and  the  police  should  have  the  same 
power  of  interference  which  they  have  with  regard  to  other  vehicles. 

After  a  plan  like  this  had  been  working  a  little  while,  the  nuisance  would 
be  materially  abated,  and,  indeed,  the  consciousness  of  the  ease  with  which 
the  offender  might  be  summoned,  would  go  far  to  get  rid  of  it. 

CROPPING. 

This  is  an  infliction  of  too  much  torture  for  the  gratification  of  a  non- 
sensical fancy  ;  and,  after  all,  in  the  opinion  of  many,  and  of  those,  too,  who 
are  fondest  of  dogs,  the  animal  looks  far  better  in  his  natural  state  than 
when  we  have  exercised  all  our  cruel  art  upon  him.  Besides,  the  effects 
of  this  absurd  amputation  do  not  cease  with  the  healing  of  the  ear.  The 
intense  inflammation  that  we  have  set  up,  materially  injures  the  internal 
structure  of  this  organ.  Deafness  is  occasionally  produced  by  it  in  some 
dogs,  and  constantly  in  others.  The  frequent  deafness  of  the  pug  is  solely 
attributable  to  the  outrageous  as  well  as  absurd  rounding  of  his  ears. 
The  almost  invariable  deafness  of  the  white  wire-haired  terrier  is  to  be 
traced  to  this  cause. 

TAILING. 

Then  the  tail  of  the  dog  does  not  suit  the  fancy  of  the  owner.  It  must 
be  shortened  in  some  of  these  animals,  and  taken  off  altogether  in  others. 
If  the  sharp,  strong  scissors,  with  a  ligature,  were  used,  the  operation, 
although  still  indefensible,  would  not  be  a  very  cruel  one,  for  the  tail  may 
be  removed  almost  in  a  moment,  and  the  wound  soon  heals ;  but  for  the 
beastly  gnawing  off  of  the  part — and  the  drawing  out  of  the  tendons  and 
nerves — these  are  the  acts  of  a  cannibal ;  and  he  who  orders  or  perpetrates 
a  barbarity  so  nearly  approaching  to  cannibalism  deserves  to  be  scouted 
from  all  society. 

DEW-CLAWS. 

Next  comes  the  depriving  of  the  dog  of  his  dew-claws — the  supplemen- 
tary toes  a  little  above  the  foot.  They  are  supposed  to  interfere  with  hunt- 
ing by  becoming  entangled  with  the  grass  or  underwood.  This  rarely 
happens.  The  truth  of  the  matter  is,  they  are  simply  illustrations  of  the 
uniformity  of  structure  which  prevails  in  all  animals,  so  far  as  is  consistent 
with  their  destiny.  The  dew-claws  only  make  up  the  number  of  toes  in 
other  animals.  If  they  are  attached,  as  they  are  in  some  dogs,  simply  by 
a  portion  of  skin,  they  may  be  removed  without  any  very  great  pain,  yet 
the  man  of  good  feeling  would  not  meddle  with  them.  He  would  not  un- 
necessarily inflict  any  pain  that  he  can  avoid  ;  and  here  in  several  of  the 
breeds  the  toe  is  united  by  an  actual  joint ;  and  if  they  are  dissected 
because  they  are  a  little  in  the  way,  it  is  a  barbarous  operation  and 
nothing  can  justify  it. 


'BREAKING-IN.  113 

The  cruelties  that  are  perpetrated  on  puppies  during  the  course  of  their 
education  or  breaking-in,  are  sometimes  infamous.  Young  dogs,  like  young 
people,  must  be  to  a  certain  degree  coerced  ;  but  these  animals  receive 
from  nature  so  great  an  aptitude  for  learning,  and  practising  that  which  we 
require  of  them,  and  their  own  pleasure  is  so  much  connected  with  what 
they  learn,  that  there  is  no  occasion  for  one-tenth  part  of  the  correction 
that  is  occasionally  inflicted  ;  and  the  frequent  consequence  of  the  cruelty 
to  which  they  are  subjected,  is  cowardice  or  ferocity  during  life. 

Not  many  years  ago,  as  the  author  was  going  over  one  of  the  commons 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  metropolis,  now  enclosed,  he  heard  the 
loud  sounds  of  the  lash  and  the  screams  of  a  dog.  He  hurried  on,  and 
found  two  men,  one  holding  a  greyhound  while  another  was  unmercifully 
flogging  him.  He  had  inflicted  many  lashes,  and  was  continuing  the  cor- 
rection. The  author  indignantly  interfered,  arid  the  dog  was  liberated, 
but  with  a  great  deal  of  abuse  from  the  men  ;  and  a  gentleman  galloping 
up,  and  who  was  the  owner  of  the  dog,  and  a  Middlesex  magistrate  to  boot, 
seemed  disposed  to  support  his  people  in  no  very  measured  terms.  On  being 
addressed,  however,  by  name,  and  recognising  the  speaker,  and  his  atten- 
tion being  directed  to  the  whaled  and  even  bloody  state  of  the  dog,  he 
offered  the  best  excuse  that  he  could.  We  met  again  some  montns  after- 
wards. "  That  hiding,"  said  he,  "  that  offended  you  so  much  did  Carlo 
good,  for  he  has  not  been  touched  since."  "  No,"  was  the  reply  ;  "you 
were  a  little  ashamed  of  your  fellows,  and  have  altered  your  system,  and 
find  that  your  dogs  do  not  want  this  unmerciful  negro-whipping." 

Stories  are  told  of  the  kennel-hare — a  hare  kept  on  purpose,  and  which 
is  sometimes  shown  to  the  fox  or  stag  hounds.  The  moment  that  any  of 
them  open,  they  are  tied  up  to  the  whipping-post,  and  flogged,  while  the 
keepers  at  every  stroke  call  out  "  Ware  hare  !"  A  sheep  has  also  been 
shown  to  them,  or  still  is,  after  which  another  unmerciful  flogging  is  ad- 
ministered, amidst  cries  of  "  Ware  sheep  !"  If  this  is  not  sufficient,  some 
of  the  wool  is  dipped  in  train  oil,  and  put  into  the  dog's  mouth,  which  is 
sewed  up  for  many  hours  in  order  to  cure  him  of  sheep-biting.  There  was 
an  almost  similar  punishment  for  killing  poultry  ;  and  there  was  the  puzzle 
and  the  check-collar,  cruelly  employed,  for  killing  other  dogs. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  truth,  and  there  may  occasionally  be  some  ex- 
aggeration, in  these  accounts  ;  but  the  sportsman  who  is  indebted  for  the 
pleasures  of  the  field  to  the  intelligence  and  exertions  of  his  horses  and  his 
dogs,  is  bound,  by  every  principle  that  can  influence  an  honourable  mind, 
to  defend  them  from  all  wanton  and  useless  cruelty.  There  is  a  dog,  and 
a  faithful  and  valuable  one,  that  powerfully  demands  the  assistance  of  the 
humane — the  yard  or  watch-dog.  He  is  not  only  for  the  most  part  de- 
prived of  his  liberty,  but  too  often  neglected  and  made  unnecessarily  to 
suffer.  How  seldom  do  we  see  him  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  good  bed  of 
straw,  or,  rather,  how  frequently  is  everything  about  his  kennel  in  a 
most  filthy  and  disgusting  state  !  The  following  hint  not  only  relates  to 
him,  but  to  every  dog  that  is  tied  up  out  of  doors.  "  Their  cribs  or  their 
kennels,  as  they  are  called,  should  be  constructed  so  as  to  turn,  in  order  to 
prevent  their  inmates  from  being  exposed  to  the  cutting  blasts  of  winter. 
Where  they  have  no  other  refuge,  all  animals  seek  shelter  from  the  weather 
by  turning  their  backs  to  the  wind  ;  but,  as  the  dog  thus  confined  cannot 
do  so,  his  kennel  should  be  capable  of  turning,  or  at  least  should  be  placed 
so  as  not  to  face  the  weather  more  than  is  necessary.  The  premises  would 

i 


114  DOG-STEALING. 

be  in  quite  as  great  security,  for  the  dog  depends  as  much  upon  his  ear 
and  sense  of  smell  as  upon  his  eye,  and  would  equally  detect  a  stranger's 
presence  if  he  were  deprived  of  sight." 

In  the  Zoological  Gardens,  an  old  blind  dog  used  to  be  placed  at  the 
door  of  the  dissecting-house.  Few  had  any  business  there,  and  every  one 
of  them  he,  after  a  while,  used  to  recognise  and  welcome  full  ten  yards  off, 
by  wagging  his  tail ;  at  the  same  distance,  he  would  begin  to  growl  at  a 
stranger  unless  accompanied  by  a  friend.  From  the  author's  long  habit  of 
noticing  him,  he  used  to  recognise  his  step  before  it  would  seem  possible 
for  its  sound  to  be  heard.  He  followed  him  with  his  sightless  eyes  in  what- 
ever direction  he  moved,  and  was  not  satisfied  until  he  had  patted  and 
fondled  him. 

f>        DOG -PITS. 

Of  the  demoniacal  use  of  the  dog  in  infighting -pits,  and  the  atrocities 
that  were  committed  there,  I  will  not  now  speak.  These  places  were  fre- 
quented by  few  others  than  the  lowest  of  the  low.  Cruelties  were  there 
inflicted  that  seemed  to  be  a  libel  on  human  nature  ;  and  such  was  the  bane- 
ful influence  of  the  scene,  that  it  appeared  to  be  scarcely  possible  for  any 
one  to  enter  these  pits  without  experiencing  a  greater  or  less  degree  of 
moral  degradation. 

The  public  dog-pits  have  now  been  put  down ;  but  the  system  of  dog- 
fighting,  with  most  of  its  attendant  atrocities,  still  continues.  There  are 
many  more  low  public-houses  than  there  used  to  be  pits,  that  have  roomy 
places  behind,  and  out  of  sight,  where  there  are  regular  meetings  for  this 
purpose.  Those  among  the  neighbours  who  cannot  fail  of  being  annoyed 
and  disgusted  by  the  frequent  uproar,  might  give  a  clue  to  these  dens  of 
infamy  ;  and  the  depriving  of  a  few  of  the  landlords  of  their  licence  would 
go  a  great  way  towards  the  effectual  suppression  of  the  practice. 

Would  it  be  thought  possible  that  certain  of  our  young  aristocracy  keep 
fighting-dogs  at  the  repositories  of  various  dealers  in  the  outskirts  of  the 
metropolis  ;  and  that  these  animals  remain  there,  as  it  were,  at  livery,  the 
owners  coming  at  their  pleasure,  and  making  and  devising  what  matches 
they  think  proper  ? 

However  disgraceful  it  may  be,  it  is  actually  the  fact.  Here  is  a  field 
for  "  the  suppression  of  cruelty  !" 

DOG-STEALING. 

The  practice  of  stealing  dogs  is  both  directly  and  indirectly  connected 
with  a  great  deal  of  cruelty.  There  are  more  than  twenty  miscreants  who 
are  well  known  to  subsist  by  picking  up  dogs  in  the  street.  There  are 
generally  two  of  them  together  with  aprons  rolled  round  their  waists.  The 
dog  is  caught  up  at  the  corner  of  one  of  the  streets,  concealed  in  a  moment 
in  the  apron,  arid  the  thieves  are  far  away  before  the  owner  suspects 
the  loss.  These  dogs,  that  have  been  used  to  every  kind  of  luxury,  are 
crowded  into  dark  and  filthy  cellars,  where  they  become  infected  by  va- 
rious diseases.  The  young  ones  have  distemper,  and  the  old  ones  mange, 
and  all  become  filled  with  vermin.  There  they  remain  until  a  sufficient 
reward  is  offered  for  their  recovery,  or  they  are  sent  far  into  the  country,  or 
shipped  for  France  or  some  other  foreign  market.  Little  or  nothing  is 
done  by  punishing  the  inferior  rogues  in  this  traffic.  The  blow  must  be 


DOG-STEALING. 


115 


struck  at  those  of  a  superior  class.  I  will  not  assert  that  every  dog-dealer, 
is  in  league  with,  and  profits  by,  the  lower  thieves ;  but  it  is  true  of  a 
great  many  of  them,  and  it  is  the  principal  and  most  lucrative  part  of  their 
trade.  They  are  likewise  intimately  connected  with  the  dog-fights,  and 
encourage  them,  for  the  sake  of  their  trade  as  dealers.  An  attempt  should 
be  made  to  bring  the  matter  home  to  these  scoundrels.* 


a  Mr.  Bishop,  of  Bond-street,  has  assured 
the.' public,  that  he  is  able  to  prove  that 
money  has  recently  been  extorted  from  the 
owners  of  dogs,  by  dog-stealers  and  their 
confederates,  to  the  amount  of  more  than  a 
thousand  pounds.  Surely  this  calls  for  the 
decided  interposition  of  the  legislature.  A 
strange  case  of  atrocity  and  cruelty  was 
related  by  a  gentleman  to  Mr.  Bishop. 
"  A  young  dog  of  mine,"  says  he,  "  was 
lost  in  London,  and,  being  aware  that,  if 
a  noise  was  made  about  it,  a  great  price 
would  be  asked  for  it,  I  gave  out  that  I 
wanted  to  purchase  one :  I  was  shown  my 


own  dog.  I  seized  it ;  but  there  were  se- 
veral scoundrels  present  who  professed  to 
belong  to  it,  and  threatened  to  kill  the  dog 
if  I  did  not  pay  for  it,  I  proceeded  to  de- 
scribe it  as  my  own,  stating  that  it  had 
bad  back  or  double  teeth.  Judge  of  my 
surprise  when,  after  great  difficulty,  and 
the  dog  crying  greatly,  its  mouth  was 
opened,  and  all  the  back  teeth  had  been 
taken  out !  I  paid  two  pounds  for  it  be- 
fore they  would  let  me  take  it  away ;  but, 
in  consequence  of  the  injuries  it  had  re- 
ceived, it  died  a  few  days  afterwards." 


I  2 


116 


THE  SKELETON. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  SKELETON. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM  I FITS;  TURNSIDE  ;  EPILEPSY; 

CHOREA;  RHEUMATISM  AND  PALSY. 


THE   SKELETON   OF   THE  DOG. 


1.  The  intermaxillary  bone. 

2.  Nasal  bone. 

3.  3.  Maxilla  superior. 

4.  Lachrymal  bone. 

5.  Zygomatic  bone. 

6.  Orbit  of  the  eye. 

7.  Frontal  bone. 

8.  Summit  of  the  head. 

9.  9.  Occipital  bones. 

10.  10.  10.  Temporal  bones. 


THE  HEAD  AND   ITS   FUNCTIONS. 

11.  11.  11.    Inferior    maxillary  or    jaw 
bones. 

12.  12.  Seven    inferior  maxillary  molar 
teeth. 

13.  13.  Six  molar  teeth  of  the   superior 
jaw. 

14.  Canine  teeth  of  the  superior  and  infe- 
rior jaws. 

15.  Three   incisor   teeth  of  the   superior 
maxillary  bone. 

16.  The  three  inferior  ditto. 

THE   TRUNK. 


a.  a.  a.  The  ligamentum  nuchse. 
i.  n.  in.  iv.  v.  vi.  vn.  The  seven  ver- 
tebrae of  the  neck. 
13.  The  thirteen  dorsal  vertebrae. 
7.  The  seven  lumbar  vertebras. 
21.  Os  sacrum,  or  rump- bone. 


22.  22.  Twenty  caudal  vertebrae— verte- 
brae of  the  tail. 

23.  The  left  os  innominatum. 

24.  Right  ditto. 

The  nine  true  ribs,  with  their  cartilages. 
The  four  false  ribs,  with  their  cartilages. 
o.  The  sternum. 


FITS.  117 

THE   LEFT   ANTERIOR  EXTREMITY. 

1.  The  scapula,  or  shoulder-blade.  10.  Os  metacarpi  digiti  tertii — the  third 

2.  2.  Os  humeri,  or  shoulder.  metacarpal  bone. 

3.  3.  Radius — the  lesser  bone  of  the  arm.  11.  Os   metacarpi   digiti    quarti — fourth 

4.  4.  Ulna — the  elbow.  metacarpal. 

5.  Os  naviculare — the  navicular  bone.  12.  Os  metacarpi  digiti  quinti. 

6.  Os  triquetrum,  or  triangulare.  13/13.  13.  13.  The  first  digits  of  the  fore- 

7.  Os  pisiforme,  or  pisiform  bone.  feet 

8.  Os  semilunare,  or  semilunar  bone.  14.  14.  14.  14.  The  second  ditto. 

9.  Os  capitatum — the  nail.  15.  The  third  ditto. 

16.  The  sessamoid  bone. 

THE  RIGHT  ANTERIOR  EXTREMITY. 

1.  1.  Eadius.  8.  Os  metacarpi  pollicis — the  thumb. 

2.  Ulna — elbow.  9.  Ossa  metacarpi  digitorum  quatuor — 

3.  Os  triquetrum — the  triangular  bone.  the  four  bones  of  the  metacarpi. 

4.  Os  naviculare — the  navicular  bone.  10.  Phalanx    prima  pollicis — first    pha- 

5.  Os  semilunare — the  semilunar  bone.  lange  of  the  thumb. 

6.  Os  multangulum  majus — the  larger  11.  Phalanx  tertia    pollicis— third   pha- 
multangular  bone.  lange  of  ditto. 

7.  Os  multangulum    minus — the  small  12.  Digiti    quatuor — fourth   phalange  of 
multangular  bone.  ditto. 

THE  LETT   POSTERIOR  EXTREMITY. 

1.  1.  Os  femoris — thigh-bone.  9.  Os  cuneiforma  tertium  et  maximum. 

2.  2.  Patella — the  knee-pan.  10.  Os  metatarsi  digiti  quarti, 

3.  3.  Tibia— the  shank  of  the  leg.  11.  Os  metatarsi  digiti  tertii. 

4.  4.  Fibula— the  small  bone  of  ditto.  12.  Os  metatarsi  digiti  secundi. 

5.  Calcareus — the  heel.  13.  Os  metatarsi  digiti  primi. 

6.  Astragalus — one  of  the  seven  bones  of  14.  Phalanges  primse  digitorum  pedis. 
the  tarsus.  15.  Phalanges  secundae. 

7.  Os  navieulare — the  navicular  bone.  16.  Phalanges  tertise. 

8.  Os  cuboideum — or  cubic  bone.  17.  Os  sesamoideum — the  sessamoid. 

THE  RIGHT   POSTERIOR  EXTREMITY. 

1.  Os  femoris — the  thigh-bone.  11.  Os  cuneiforma  secundum  et  minimum. 

2.  Patella — the  knee-pan.  12.  Radimentum  ossis  metatarsi  hallucis. 

3.  Tibia — the  shank  of  the  leg.  13.  Os  metatarsi  digiti  primi. 

4.  Calcareus — the  heel.  14.  Os  metatarsi  digiti  secundi. 

5.  Astragalus— one  of  the  seven  bones  of  15.  Os  metatarsi  digiti  tertii. 

the  tarsus.  16.  Phalanges  primse  digitorum  pedis. 

7.  Os  naviculare — the  navicular  bone.  17.  Phalanges  secundae. 

8.  Os  cuneiforma  primum  et  medium.  18.  Phalanges  tertiae. 

9.  Os  cuboideum,  or  cubic  bone.  19.  Os  sesamoideum — the  sessamoid. 
10.  Os  cuneiforma  tertium  et  maximum. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM. 
FITS. 

24th  Feb.  1814. — A  pug  was  accustomed  to  howl  frequently  when  his 
young  master  played  on  the  flute.  If  the  higher  notes  were  sounded,  he 
would  leap  on  his  master's  lap,  look  in  his  face,  and  howl  vehemently. 
To-day  the  young  man  purposely  blew  the  shrillest  sound  that  he  could. 
The  dog,  after  howling  three  or  four  times,  began  to  run  round  the  room, 
and  over  the  tables  and  chairs,  barking  incessantly.  This  he  continued 
more  than  an  hour. 

When  I  saw  him  all  consciousness  of  surrounding  objects  was  gone. 
He  was  still  running  feebly,  but  barking  might  and  main. 


1 18  DISEASES  OF  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM. 

I  dashed  a  basin  of  cold  water  in  his  face,  and  he  dropped  as  if  he  had 
been  shot.  He  lay  motionless  nearly  a  minute,  and  then  began  to  struggle 
and  to  bark  ;  another  cup  of  water  was  dashed  in  his  face,  and  he  lay  quite 
motionless  during  two  minutes  or  more.  In  the  mean  time  I  had  got  a 
grain  each  of  calomel  and  tartar  emetic,  which  I  put  on  his  tongue,  and 
washed  it  down  with  a  little  water.  He  began  to  recover,  and  again  began 
to  yelp,  although  much  softer ;  but,  in  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  sickness 
commenced,  and  he  ceased  his  noise.  He  vomited  three  or  four  times,  and 
lay  frightened  and  quiet.  A  physic-ball  was  given  him  in  the  evening, 
and  on  the  following  morning. 

On  the  next  day,  the  young  man  put  open  the  door,  and  sat  himself 
down,  and  began  to  prepare  the  flute ;  the  dog  was  out  in  a  moment, 
and  did  not  return  during  a  couple  of  hours.  On  the  following  day  he 
made  his  escape  again,  and  so  the  matter  went  on  ;  but,  before  the  expira- 
tion of  the  week,  his  master  might  play  the  flute  if  he  pleased. 

TURNSIDE,  OR   GIDDINESS. 

This  is  a  singular  disease  prevalent  among  cattle,  but  only  occasionally 
seen  in  the  dog.  He  becomes  listless,  dull,  off  his  food,  and  scarcely 
recognises  any  surrounding  object.  He  has  no  fit,  but  he  wanders  about 
the  room  for  several  hours  at  a  time,  generally  or  almost  invariably  in  the 
same  direction,  and  with  his  head  on  one  side.  At  first  he  carefully  avoids 
the  objects  that  are  in  his  way ;  but  by  degrees  his  mental  faculties  become 
impaired  ;  his  sense  of  vision  is  confused  or  lost,  and  he  blunders  against 
everything  :  in  fact,  if  uninterrupted,  he  would  continue  his  strange  peram- 
bulation incessantly,  until  he  was  fairly  worn  out  and  died  in  con- 
vulsions. 

I  used  to  consider  the  complaint  to  be  uniformly  fatal.  I  have  resorted 
to  every  remedial  measure  that  the  case  could  suggest.  I  have  bled,  and 
physicked,  and  setoned,  and  blistered,  and  used  the  moxa  ;  but  all  without 
avail,  for  not  in  a  single  case  did  I  save  my  patient. 

No  opportunity  of  post-mortem  examination  was  lost.  In  some  cases  I 
have  found  spicula  projecting  from  the  inner  plate  of  the  skull,  and  press- 
ing upon  or  even  penetrating  the  dura  mater.  I  know  not  why  the  dog 
should  be  more  subject  to  these  irregularities  of  cranial  surface  than  any 
of  our  other  patients ;  but  decidedly  he  is  so,  and  where  they  have  pressed 
upon  the  brain,  there  has  been  injection  of  the  membranes,  and  sometimes 
effusion  between  them. 

In  some  cases  I  have  found  effusion  without  this  external  pressure,  and, 
in  some  cases,  but  comparatively  few,  there  has  not  been  any  perceptible 
lesion.  Hydatids  have  been  found  in  the  different  passages  leading  to  the 
cranium,  but  they  have  not  penetrated. 

I  used  to  recommend  that  the  dog  should  be  destroyed  ;  but  I  met  with 
two  or  three  favourable  cases,  and,  after  that,  1  determined  to  try  every 
measure  that  could  possibly  be  serviceable.  I  bled,  and  physicked,  and 
inserted  setons,  and  tried  to  prevent  the  utter  exhaustion  of  the  animal. 
When  he  was  unable  longer  to  perform  his  circumvolutions,  and  found  that 
he  was  foiled,  he  laid  himself  down,  and  by  degrees  resumed  his  former 
habits.  He  was  sadly  impatient  and  noisy ;  but  in  a  few  cases  he  was 
cured. 


EPILEPSY.  119 

EPILEPSY 

in  the  dog  assumes  a  most  fatal  character.  It  is  an  accompaniment,  or 
a  consequence,  of  almost  every  other  disease.  When  the  puppy  is  under- 
going the  process  of  dentition,  the  irritation  produced  by  the  pressure 
of  the  tooth,  as  it  penetrates  the  gum,  leads  on  to  epilepsy.  When  he 
is  going  through  the  stages  of  distemper,  with  a  very  little  bad  treatment, 
or  in  spite  of  the  best,  fits  occur.  The  degree  of  intestinal  irritation 
which  is  caused  by  worms,  is  marked  by  an  attack  of  epilepsy.  If  the 
usual  exercise  be  neglected  for  a  few  days,  and  the  dog  is  taken  out,  and 
suffered  to  range  as  he  likes,  the  accumulation  of  excitability  is  expended 
in  a  fit. 

The  dog  is,  without  doubt,  the  most  intellectual  animal.  He  is  the 
companion  and  the  friend  of  man :  he  exhibits,  and  is  debased  by  some  of 
his  vices ;  but,  to  a  greater  degree  than  many  will  allow,  he  exhibits  all 
the  intelligence  and  the  virtues  of  the  biped.  In  proportion  to  his  bulk, 
the  weight  of  his  brain  far  exceeds  that  of  any  other  quadruped — the  very 
smallest  animals  alone  being  excepted,  in  whom  there  must  be  a  certain 
accumulation  of  medullary  matter  in  order  to  give  origin  to  the  nerves 
of  every  system,  as  numerous  in  the  minutest  as  in  him  of  greatest  bulk. 

As  it  has  been  said  of  the  human  being  that  great  power  and  exertion 
of  the  mental  faculties  are  sometimes  connected  with  a  tendency  to  epilepsy, 
and,  as  violent  emotions  of  joy  or  of  grief  have  been  known  to  be  followed 
by  it,  I  can  readily  account  for  its  occurrence  in  the  young  dog,  when 
frightened  at  the  chiding  of  his  master,  or  by  the  dread  of  a  punish- 
ment which  he  was  conscious  that  he  had  deserved.  Then,  too,  I  can  under- 
stand that,  when  breaking  loose  from  long  confinement,  he  ranges  in  all  the 
exuberance  of  joy ;  and  especially  when  he  flushes  almost  his  first  covey,  and 
the  game  falls  dead  before  him,  his  mental  powers  are  quite  overcome,  and 
he  falls  into  an  epileptic  fit. 

The  treatment  of  epilepsy  in  the  dog  is  simple,  yet  often  misunderstood. 
It  is  connected  with  distemper  in  its  early  stage.  It  is  the  produce  of 
inflammation  of  the  mucous  passages  generally,  which  an  emetic  and  a  pur- 
gative will  probably,  by  their  direct  medicinal  effect,  relieve,  and  free  the 
digestive  passages  from  some  source  of  irritation,  and  by  their  mechanical 
action  unburthen  the  respiratory  ones. 

When  it  it  symptomatic  of  a  weak  state  of  the  constitution,  or  connected 
with  the  after  stages  of  distemper,  the  emeto-purgative  must  be  succeeded 
by  an  anodyne,  or,  at  least,  by  that  which  will  strengthen,  but  not  irritate 
the  patient. 

A  seton  is  an  admirable  auxiliary  in  epilepsy  connected  with  distemper ; 
it  is  a  counter-irritant  and  a  derivative,  and  its  effects  are  a  salutary  dis- 
charge, under  the  influence  of  which  inflammation  elsewhere  will  gradually 
abate. 

I  should,  however,  be  cautious  of  bleeding  in  distemper  fits.  I  should 
be  fearful  of  it  even  in  an  early  stage,  because  I  well  know  that  the  acute 
form  of  that  general  mucous  inflammation  soon  passes  over,  and  is  suc- 
ceeded by  a  debility,  from  the  depression  of  which  I  cannot  always  rouse 
my  patient.  When  the  fits  proceed  from  dentition,  I  lance  the  jaws,  arid 
give  an  emetic,  and  follow  it  up  with  cooling  purgative  medicine.  When 
they  are  caused  by  irregular  and  excessive  exercise,  I  open  the  bowels 
and  make  my  exercise  more  regular  and  equable.  When  they  arise  from 


120  DISEASES  OF  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM. 

excitation,  I  expose  my  patient  more  cautiously  to  the  influence  of  those 
things  which  make  so  much  impression  on  his  little  but  susceptible  mind. 

If  the  fit  has  resisted  other  means,  bleeding  should  be  resorted  to.  A  fit  in 
other  animals  is  generally  connected  with  dangerous  determination  of  blood 
to  the  head,  and  bleeding  is  imperative.  A  fit  in  the  dog  may  be  the  con- 
sequence of  sudden  surprise  and  irritation.  If  I  had  the  means  I  should 
see  whether  I  could  not  break  the  charm ;  whether  I  could  not  get  rid  of 
the  disturbance,  by  suddenly  affecting  the  nervous  system,  and  the  system 
generally,  in  another  way.  I  would  seize  him  by  the  nape  of  the  neck, 
and,  with  all  my  force,  dash  a  little  cold  water  in  his  face.  The  shock 
of  this  has  often  dispersed  the  epileptic  agency,  as  it  were  by  magic,  I 
would  give  an  emeto-purgative ;  a  grain  or  a  grain  and  a  half  of  calomel 
and  the  same  quantity  of  tartar  emetic :  I  would  soothe  and  coax  the  poor 
animal.  Then, — and  if  I  saw  it  at  the  beginning,  I  would  do  it  early, — if 
the  fit  was  more  dependent  upon,  or  was  beginning  to  be  connected  with, 
determination  of  blood  to  the  head,  and  not  on  any  temporary  cause  of  ex- 
citation or  irritation,  I  would  bleed  freely  from  the  jugular. 

The  following  singular  case  of  epilepsy  is  narrated  by  M.  W.  Leblanc : — 

A  dog  of  small  size,  three  years  old,  was  very  subject  to  those  epileptic 
fits  that  are  so  frequent  among  dogs.  After  a  considerable  period,  the  fits 
would  cease,  and  the  animal  recover  the  appearance  of  perfect  health  ;  but 
the  more  he  advanced  in  age  the  more  frequent  were  the  fits,  which  is  con- 
trary to  that  which  usually  happens. 

The  last  fit  was  a  very  strong  one,  and  was  followed  by  peculiar 
symptoms.  The  animal  became  dispirited.  The  eyes  lost  their  usual 
lively  appearance,  and  the  eyelids  were  often  closed.  The  dog  was  very 
drowsy,  and,  during  sleep,  there  were  observed,  from  time  to  time,  spas- 
modic movements,  principally  of  the  head  and  chest.  He  always  lay  down 
on  the  left  side.  When  he  walked,  he  had  a  marked  propensity  to  turn  to 
the  left. 

M.  Leblanc  employed  purgatives,  a  seton  to  the  back  part  of  the  neck, 
and  the  application  of  the  cautery  to  the  left  side  of  the  forehead  ;  but 
nothing  would  stop  the  progress  of  the  disease,  and  he  died  in  the  course 
of  two  months  after  the  last  fit.  The  nearer  he  approached  his  end  the 
smaller  were  the  circles  that  he  took  ;  and,  in  the  latter  part  of  his  exist- 
ence, he  did  little  more  than  turn  as  if  he  were  on  a  pivot,  and,  when  the 
time  arrived  that  he  could  walk  no  more,  he  used  to  lay  himself  down  on 
the  right  side. 

On  the  post-mortem  examination,  a  remarkable  thickness  of  the  meninges 
was  found  on  almost  the  whole  of  the  left  lobe  of  the  brain.  The  dura 
mater,  the  two  leaves  of  the  arachnoid  membrane,  and  the  pia  mater  did 
not  constitute  more  than  one  membrane  of  the  usual  thickness,  and 
presented  a  somewhat  yellow  colouring.  The  cerebral  substance  of  the 
left  lobe  appeared  to  be  a  little  firmer  than  that  of  the  right  lobe.  The 
fissures  of  the  cerebral  convolutions  were  much  less  deep  than  those  of 
the  other  side.  The  red  vessels  which  ran  in  the  fissures  were  of  smaller 
size,  and  in  some  places  could  scarcely  be  discovered. 

CHOREA. 

This  is  an  irregular  reception  or  distribution  of  nervous  power — a  con- 
vulsive involuntary  twitching  of  some  muscle  or  set  of  muscles.     It  is  an 


CHOREA,  121 

occasional  consequence  of  distemper  that  has  been  unusually  severe  or 
imperfectly  treated,  and  sometimes  it  is  seen  even  after  that  disease  has 
existed  in  its  mildest  form. 

It  first  appears  in  one  leg  or  shoulder,  and  is  long,  or  perhaps  entirely, 
confined  to  that  limb.  There  is  a  singular  spasmodic  jerking  action  of  the 
limb.  It  looks  like  a  series  of  pulsations,  and  averages  from  forty  to  sixty 
in  a  minute.  Oftener,  perhaps,  than  otherwise,  both  legs  are  similarly 
affected.  When  the  animal  is  lying  down,  the  legs  are  convulsed  in  the 
way  that  I  have  described,  and  when  he  stands  there  is  a  pulsating  depres- 
sion or  sinking  of  the  head  and  neck.  In  some  cases,  the  muscles  of  the 
neck  are  the  principal  seat  of  the  disease,  or  some  muscle  of  the  face  ;  the 
temporal  muscle  beating  like  an  artery  ;  the  masseter  opening  and  closing 
the  mouth,  the  muscles  of  the  eyelid,  and,  in  a  few  cases,  those  of  the  eye 
itself  being  affected.  These  convulsive  movements  generally,  yet  not 
uniformly,  cease  during  sleep,  but  that  sleep  is  often  very  much  disturbed. 
If  the  case  is  neglected,  and  the  dog  is  in  a  debilitated  state,  this  spasmodic 
action  steals  over  the  whole  frame,  and  he  lies  extended  with  every  limb 
in  constant  and  spasmodic  action. 

In  the  majority  of  cases,  such  an  expenditure  of  nervous  and  muscular 
power  slowly  destroys  the  strength  of  the  animal,  and  he  dies  a  mere 
skeleton ;  or  the  disease  assumes  the  character  of  epilepsy,  or  it  quiets 
down  into  true  palsy. 

In  the  most  favourable  cases,  no  curative  means  having  been  used,  the 
dog  regains  his  flesh  and  general  strength  ;  but  the  chorea  continues,  the 
spasmodic  action,  however,  being  much  lessened.  At  other  times,  it  seems 
to  have  disappeared ;  but  it  is  ready  to  return  when  the  animal  is  excited 
or  attacked  by  other  disease.  In  a  variety  of  instances,  there  is  the  irri- 
table temper  which  accompanies  chorea  in  the  human  being,  and  most 
certainly  when  the  disease  has  been  extensive  and  confirmed. 

Chorea,  neglected  or  improperly  treated,  or  too  frequently  pursuing  its 
natural  course,  degenerates  into  paralysis  agitans.  There  is  a  tremulous  or 
violent  motion  of  almost  every  limb.  The  spasms  are  not  relaxed,  but  are 
even  increased  during  sleep,  and  when  the  animal  awakes,  he  rises  with 
agitation  and  alarm.  There  is  not  a  limb  under  the  perfect  control  of  the 
will ;  there  is  not  a  moment's  respite  ;  the  constitution  soon  sinks,  and  the 
animal  dies.  No  person  should  be  induced  to  undertake  the  cure  of  such 
a  case :  the  owner  should  be  persuaded  to  permit  a  speedy  termination  to 
a  life  which  no  skill  can  render  comfortable. 

Chorea  is  oftenest  observed  in  young  dogs,  and  especially  after  dis- 
temper ;  and  it  seems  to  depend  on  a  certain  degree  of  primary  or  sympa- 
thetic inflammatory  affection  of  the  brain. 

Chorea  is  often  very  plainly  a  consequence  of  debility  :  either  the 
distribution  of  nervous  power  is  irregular,  or  the  muscles  have  lost  their 
power  of  being  readily  acted  upon,  or  have  acquired  a  state  of  morbid 
irritability.  The  latter  is  the  most  frequent  state.  Their  action  is  irre- 
gular and  spasmodic,  and  it  resembles  the  struggles  of  expiring  nature  far 
more  than  the  great  and  uniform  action  of  health.  It  is  not  the  chorea 
that  used  to  be  described,  in  which  there  was  an  irresistible  impulse  to  ex- 
cessive action,  and  which  was  best  combated  by  complete  muscular  ex- 
haustion ;  but  the  foundation  of  this  disease  is  palpable  debility. 

In  the  treatment  of  chorea  there  must  be  no  bleeding,  no  excessive 
purgation,  but  aperients  or  alteratives,  merely  sufficient  to  keep  the  faeces 


122  DISEASES  OF  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM. 

in  a  pultaceous  state,  so  as  to  carry  off  any  source  of  irritation  to  the 
intestinal  canal,  and  particularly  some  species  of  worms,  too  frequent 
sources  of  irritation  there.  To  these  should  be  added  nutritious  food, 
gentle  exercise,  tonic  medicines,  and  general  comforts.  Counter-irritants 
may  be  applied — such  as  blisters  over  the  head,  and  setons,  extending  from 
poll  to  poll — the  application  of  turpentine,  or  the  tincture  of  cantharides ; 
but  all  of  these  will  frequently  be  of  no  effect,  and  occasionally  a  rapid 
and  fearful  increase  of  irritability  will  ensue  :  antispasmodics  are  in  this 
case  of  no  use,  and  narcotics  are  altogether  powerless.  As  for  tonics, 
iron  and  gentian  have  been  serviceable  to  a  certain  extent,  but  they  have 
never  cured  the  complaint.  The  nitrate  of  silver  will  be  the  sheet-anchor 
of  the  practitioner,  and  if  early  used  will  seldom  deceive  him.  It  should 
be  combined  with  ginger,  and  given  morning  and  night,  in  doses  varying 
from  one-sixth  to  one-third  of  a  grain,  according  to  the  size  of  the  dog. 

The  condition  and  strength  of  the  dog,  and  the  season  of  the  year,  will 
be  our  best  guides.  If  the  patient  has  not  lost  much  flesh,  and  is  not 
losing  it  at  the  time  that  we  have  to  do  with  him,  and  has  few  symptoms 
of  general  debility,  and  spring  or  summer  are  approaching,  we  may  with 
tolerable  confidence  predict  a  cure ;  but,  if  he  has  been  rapidly  losing 
ground,  and  is  doing  so  still,  and  staggers  about  and  falls,  there  is  no 
medicine  that  will  restore  him. 

5th  October,  1840. — A  pointer,  eighteen  months  old,  had  had  the  dis- 
temper, but  not  severely,  and  was  apparently  recovering,  when  he  suddenly 
lost  all  voluntary  power  over  his  limbs.  He  was  unable  to  get  up,  and 
his  legs  were  in  constant,  rapid,  and  violent  motion.  This  continued  three 
days,  during  which  he  had  refused  all  food,  when,  the  dog  being  in  the 
country,  my  advice  was  asked.  I  ordered  a  strong  emetic  to  be  given  to 
him,  and  after  that  a  dose  of  Epsom  salts,  the  insertion  of  a  seton,  and,  in 
addition  to  this,  our  usual  tonic  was  to  be  given  twice  every  day.  His 
food  to  consist  chiefly  of  good  strong  soup,  which  was  to  be  forced  upon  him 
in  a  sufficient  quantity. 

In  two  days  he  was  able  to  get  up  and  stagger  about,  although  frequently 
falling.  His  appetite  returned.  He  continued  to  improve,  and  most  rapidly 
gained  strength  and  especially  flesh.  A  very  peculiar,  high-lifting,  clam- 
bering, and  uncertain  motion  of  the  legs  remained,  with  an  apparent  defect 
of  sight,  for  he  ran  against  almost  everything. 

In  six  weeks  the  seton  was  removed,  and  the  dog  remained  in  the  same 
'  state  until  the  7th  of  December.  The  uncertain  clambering  motion  was 
now  increasing,  and  likewise  the  defect  of  sight.  He  ran  against  almost 
every  person  and  every  thing.  The  cornea  was  transparent,  the  iris  con- 
tracted, there  was  no  opacity  of  the  lens,  or  pink  tint  of  the  retina,  but  a 
peculiar  glassy  appearance,  as  unconscious  of  everything  around  it.  An 
emetic  was  given,  and,  after  that,  an  ounce  of  sulphate  of  magnesia. 

8th.  He  was  dreadfully  ill  after  taking  the  salts ;  perhaps  they  were 
not  genuine.  For  two  days  he  panted  sadly,  refused  his  food,  and  vomited 
that  which  was  forced  upon  him.  His  muzzle  was  hot ;  he  could  scarcely 
stand  ;  he  lost  flesh  very  rapidly.  An  emetic  was  given  immediately,  and 
a  distemper-ball  daily. 

16th.  He  soon  began  rapidly  to  recover,  until  he  was  in  nearly  the  same 

state  as  before,  except  that  the  sight  was  apparently  more  deficient.     The 

sulphate  of  magnesia  was  given  every  fourth  day,  and  another  seton  inserted. 

21  st.  He  continued  the  medicine  and  evidently  improved,  the  sight  re- 


CHOKEA.  123 

turning,  and  the  spasms  being  considerably  less.  The  distemper-ball  was 
continued. 

4th  January,  1841. — The  spasms  were  better;  but  the  vision  did  not 
improve.  In  the  afternoon  he  fell  into  a  momentary  fit.  He  almost  im- 
mediately rose  again,  and  proceeded  as  if  nothing  had  happened.  An  ounce 
of  Epsom  salts  was  given,  and  then  the  tonic  balls  as  before. 

22nd.  The  spasms  were  lessened,  the  clambering  gait  nearly  ceased,  but 
the  vision  was  not  improved.  The  seton  was  removed,  and  only  an  addi- 
tional dose  of  salts  given^ 

27th.  The  spasms  suddenly  and  very  considerably  increased.  The  left 
side  appeared  now  to  be  particularly  affected.  The  left  leg  before  and  be- 
hind were  most  spasmed,  the  right  scarcely  at  all  so.  The  vision  of  the 
left  eye  was  quite  gone.  The  dog  had  been  taken  to  Mr.  Alexander's,  the 
oculist,  who  attributed  the  affection  of  the  eye  and  the  general  spasmodic 
disease  to  some  pressure  on  the  brain,  and  recommended  the  trial  of  copious 
and  repeated  bleeding. 

28th.  The  dog  was  dull ;  the  spasms  appeared  to  have  somewhat  increased 
and  decidedly  to  affect  the  left  side.  Fever-balls  were  ordered  to  be  given. 

29th.  Considerable  change  took  place.  At  three  o'clock  this  morning 
I  was  disturbed  by  a  noise  in  the  hospital.  The  poor  fellow  was  in  a 
violent  fit.  Water  was  dashed  in  his  face,  and  a  strong  emetic  given ;  but 
it  was  not  until  seven  o'clock  that  the  fit  had  ceased ;  he  lay  until  eleven 
o'clock,  when  the  involuntary  spasms  were  almost  suspended.  When  he 
was  placed  on  his  feet  he  immediately  fell ;  he  then  gradually  revived  and 
staggered  about.  His  master  brought  a  physician  to  see  him,  who  adopted 
Mr.  Alexander's  idea  and  urged  bleeding.  Ten  ounces  of  blood  were 
immediately  taken  ;  the  dog  refused  to  eat. 

1st  February. — The  strength  of  the  animal  was  not  impaired,  but  the 
spasms  were  more  violent,  and  he  lay  or  wandered  about  stupid  and  almost 
unconscious.  I  subtracted  eight  ounces  more  of  blood. 

2nd.  The  spasms  were  fully  as  violent,  and  no  amendment  in  the  vision. 
Eight  ounces  more  of  blood  were  subtracted  without  benefit.  A  fever- 
ball  was  ordered  to  be  given. 

3rd.  No  amendment ;  but  the  bleeding  having  been  carried  to  its  full 
extent,  I  again  resorted  to  the  tonic  balls,  which  were  given  morning  and 
night.  The  dog  was  well  fed  and  the  seton  replaced. 

5th.  A  very  considerable  amendment  is  evident. 

9th.  The  spasms  rapidly  subsided  and  almost  disappeared.  Vision  was 
not  perfectly  restored ;  but  the  dog  evidently  saw  with  his  left  eye.  He  was 
taken  away,  and  tonic  balls  sent  with  him  and  ordered  to  be  continued. 

6th  March. — The  dog  had  improved  in  strength  and  no  spasmodic  affec- 
tion remained ;  he  likewise  evidently  saw  with  his  left  eye.  The  tonic  balls 
had  been  discontinued  for  a  week,  and  his  master  hoped  that  all  would  turn 
out  well,  when  suddenly,  while  at  home,  he  was  seized  with  a  fit  that  lasted 
ten  minutes.  A  strong  emetic  was  given,  which  brought  up  a  vast  quan- 
tity of  undigested  food.  A  strong  purging-ball  was  given  to  him  in  the 
evening. 

13th.  The  dog  had  lain  slightly  spasmed  for  two  or  three  days,  when  they 
all  at  once  ceased,  and  the  animal  appeared  as  well  as  before.  Suddenly 
he  was  taken  with  another  fit,  and  again  a  vast  quantity  of  food  was  vomited. 
These  spasms  remained  two  days,  but  on  the  21st  the  fit  returned  with  the 
same  discharge  of  food.  Courses  of  purgatives  were  then  determined  on. 


124  DISEASES  OF  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM. 

A  strong  dose  of  sulphate  of  magnesia  was  given  every  third  day.  After 
four  doses  had  been  given  it  was  impossible  to  force  any  more  upon  him. 
The  syrup  of  buckthorn  was  tried,  but  the  fourth  dose  of  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  give.  The  dog  was  then  sent  into  the  country  ;  no  fit  occurred, 
but  there  were  occasional  spasms. 

23rd September. — He  was  brought  back  to  town,  and  I  saw  him.  During 
the  last  month  he  had  had  many  fits.  His  owner  at  length  consented  that 
the  actual  cautery  should  be  applied  to  his  head.  The  searing-iron  for 
doctoring  was  used,  and  applied  red-hot  to  the  centre  of  the  head.  It  was 
exceedingly  difficult  so  to  confine  the  dog  as  to  make  the  application 
effectual,  without  destroying  the  skin. 

Under  the  influence  of  the  sudden  violent  pain,  he  wandered  about  for 
more  than  two  hours,  and  then  the  spasms  returned  with  greater  force  than 
usual.  He  refused  all  food. 

We  determined  to  try  the  cautery  to  its  full  extent.  We  chained  him 
up  in  the  morning,  and  penetrated  through  the  skin  with  the  budding-iron. 
The  spasms  were  dreadfully  violent,  and  he  was  scarcely  able  to  walk  or  to 
stand.  This  gradually  subsided,  and  then  he  began  to  run  round  and  round, 
and  that  increased  to  an  extraordinary  velocity :  he  would  then  lie  for  a 
while  with  every  limb  in  action.  The  owner  then  yielded  to  all  our  wishes, 
and  he  was  destroyed  with  prussic  acid.  No  morbid  appearance  presented 
itself  in  the  brain  ;  but,  on  the  inner  plate  of  the  right  parietal  bone,  near 
the  sagittal  suture,  were  two  projections,  one-sixth  of  an  inch  in  length,  and 
armed  with  numerous  minute  spicula.  There  was  no  peculiar  inflammation 
or  vascularity  of  any  other  part  of  the  brain. 

RHEUMATISM  AND  PALSY. 

I  do  not  know  any  animal  so  subject  to  rheumatism  as  the  dog,  nor 
any  one  in  which,  if  it  is  early  and  properly  treated,  it  is  so  manageable. 
A  warm  bath — perchance  a  bleeding — a  dose  or  two  of  the  castor-oil 
mixture,  and  an  embrocation  composed  of  spirit  of  turpentine,  hartshorn, 
camphorated  spirit,  and  laudanum,  will  usually  remove  it  in  two  or  three 
days,  unless  it  is  complicated  with  muscular  sprains,  or  other  lesions,  such 
as  the  chest-founder  of  kennels. 

This  chest-founder  is  a  singular  complaint,  and  often  a  pest  in  kennels 
that  are  built  in  low  situations,  and  where  bad  management  prevails. 
Where  the  huntsman  or  whippers-in  are  too  often  in  a  hurry  to  get  home, 
and  turn  their  dogs  into  the  kennel  panting  and  hot ;  where  the  beds  are 
not  far  enough  from  the  floor,  or  the  building,  if  it  should  be  in  a  suffi- 
ciently elevated  situation,  has  yet  a  northern  aspect  and  is  unsheltered 
from  the  blast,  chest-founder  prevails ;  and  I  have  known  half  the  pack 
affected  by  it  after  a  severe  run,  the  scent  breast-high,  and  the  morning 
unusually  cold.  It  even  occasionally  passes  on  into  palsy. 

The  veterinary  surgeon  will  be  sometimes  consulted  respecting  this  pro- 
voking muscular  affection.  His  advice  will  comprise — dryness,  atten- 
tion to  the  bowels,  attention  to  the  exercise-ground,  and  perhaps,  occa- 
sionally, setons — not  where  the  huntsman  generally  places  them,  on  the 
withers  above,  but  on  the  brisket  below,  and  defended  from  the  teeth  of 
the  dog  by  a  roller  of  a  very  simple  construction,  passing  round  the  chest 
between  the  fore  legs  and  over  the  front  of  the  shoulders  on  either  side. 

The  pointer,  somewhat  too  heavy  before,  and  hardly  worked,  becomes 


PALSY.  125 

what  is  called  chest-foundered.  From  his  very  make  it  is  evident  that, 
in  long-continued  and  considerable  exertion,  the  subscapular  muscles  will 
be  liable  to  sprain  and  inflammation.  There  will  be  inflammation  of  the 
fasciae,  induration,  loss  of  power,  loss  of  nervous  influence  and  palsy. 
Cattle,  driven  far  and  fast  to  the  market,  suffer  from  the  same  cause. 
Palsy  is  frequent,  as  in  the  dog.  However  easy  it  may  be  to  subdue  a 
rheumatic  affection,  in  its  early  stage,  by  prompt  attention,  yet  if  it  is 
neglected,  it  very  soon  simulates,  or  becomes  essentially  connected  with,  or 
converted  into,  palsy. 

No  animal  presents  a  more  striking  illustration  of  the  connexion  be- 
tween intestinal  irritation  and  palsy  than  does  the  dog.  He  rarely  or 
never  has  enteritis,  even  in  its  mildest  form,  without  some  loss  of  power 
over  the  hinder  extremities.  This  may  at  first  arise  from  the  participation 
of  the  lumbar  muscles  with  the  intestinal  irritation ;  but,  if  the  disease 
of  the  bowels  continues  long,  it  will  be  evident  enough  that  it  is  not  pain 
alone  that  produces  the  constrained  and  incomplete  action  of  the  muscles 
of  the  hind  extremities,  but  that  there  is  an  actual  loss  of  nervous  power. 
A  dog  is  often  brought  to  the  veterinary  surgeon,  with  no  apparent  dis- 
ease about  him  except  a  staggering  walk  from  weakness  of  the  hind  limbs. 
He  eats  well  and  is  cheerful,  and  his  muzzle  is  moist  and  cool ;  but  his 
belly  is  tucked  up,  and  there  are  two  longitudinal  cords,  running  parallel 
to  each  other,  which  will  scarcely  yield  to  pressure.  The  surgeon  orders 
the  castor-oil  mixture  twice  or  thrice  daily,  until  the  bowels  are  well  acted 
upon,  and,  as  soon  as  that  is  accomplished,  the  dog  is  as  strong  and  as  well 
as  ever.  Perhaps  his  hind  limbs  are  dragged  behind  him :  a  warm  bath  is 
ordered,  he  is  dosed  well  with  the  castor-oil  mixture,  and,  if  it  is  a  recent 
case,  the  animal  is  well  in  a  few  days.  In  more  confirmed  palsy,  the 
charge,  or  plaster  on  the  loins,  is  added  to  the  action  of  the  aperient  on 
the  bowels.  The  process  may  be  somewhat  slow,  but  it  is  seldom  that 
the  dog  does  not  ultimately  and  perfectly  recover. 

It  is  easy  to  explain  this  connexion,  although  we  should  have  scarcely 
supposed  that  it  would  have  been  so  intimate,  had  not  frequent  experience 
forced  it  on  our  observation.  The  rectum  passes  through  the  pelvis. 
Whatever  may  be  said  of  that  intestine,  considering  its  vertical  position 
in  the  human  being,  it  is  always  charged  with  faeces  in  the  quadruped. 
It  therefore  shares  more  in  the  effect,  whatever  that  may  be,  which  is  pro- 
duced by  the  retention  of  faeces  in  the  intestinal  canal,  and  it  shares  also 
in  the  inflammatory  affection  of  other  parts  of  the  canal.  Almost  in 
contact  with  this  viscus,  or  at  least  passing  through  the  pelvis,  are  the 
crural  nerves  from  the  lumbar  vertebrae,  the  obtusator  running  round  the 
rim  of  the  pelvis,  the  glutal  nerve  occupying  its  back,  and  the  sciatic 
hastening  to  escape  from  it.  It  is  not  difficult  to  imagine  that  these,  to  a 
certain  degree,  will  sympathise  with  the  healthy  and  also  the  morbid  state 
of  the  rectum ;  and  that,  when  it  is  inert,  or  asleep,  or  diseased,  they  also 
may  be  powerless  too.  Here  is  something  like  fact  to  establish  a  very 
important  theory,  and  which  should  be  deeply  considered  by  the  sportsman 
and  the  surgeon. 

Mr.  Dupuy  has  given  a  valuable  account  of  the  knowledge  we  possess 
of  the  diseases  of  the  spinal  marrow  in  our  domestic  quadrupeds. 
He  has  proved — 

1.  That  in  our  domestic  animals  the  spinal  marrow  is  scarcely  ever 
affected  through  the  whole  of  its  course. 


126  DISEASES  OF  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM. 

2.  That  the  dorsal  and  lumbar  regions  are  the  parts  oftenest  affected. 

3.  That  inflammation  of  the  spinal  marrow  of  these  regions  always 
produces  palsy,  more  or  less  complete,  of  the  abdominal  members. 

4.  That,  in  some  cases,  this  inflammation  is  limited  to  the  inferior  or 
superior  parts  of  the  spinal  marrow,  and  that  there  is  loss  only  of  feeling 
or  of  motion. 

5.  That  sometimes  animals  die  of  palsy  without  any  organic  lesion. 

PA.LSY MANGE. 

1  \th  February,  1836. — A  Persian  bitch,  at  the  Zoological  Gardens,  who 
was  well  yesterday,  now  staggers  as  she  walks,  and  has  nearly  lost  the  use 
of  her  hind  legs.  Gave  a  good  dose  of  the  castor-oil  mixture.  1 8th.  She 
is  materially  worse  and  drags  her  hind  legs  after  her.  I  would  fain  put  on 
a  charge,  but  the  keeper  does  not  like  that  her  beautiful  coat  should  be 
spoiled,  and  wishes  to  try  what  gentle  exercise  will  do.  She  certainly, 
after  she  has  been  coaxed  a  great  deal,  will  get  on  her  legs  and  stagger 
on  fifty  yards  or  more.  Gave  the  castor-oil  mixture  daily.  19th.  She 
is  a  little  stronger,  and  walks  a  little  better.  Continue  the  mixture. 
Embrocate  well  with  the  rheumatic  mixture — sp.  tereb.,  sp.  camph.,  liq. 
ammon.,  et  tinct.  opii — and  give  gentle  exercise. 

2nd  March. — She  does  improve,  although  slowly  ;  the  charge  is  there- 
fore postponed.  Continue  treatment.  30^.  She  is  considerably  better. 
Continue  the  mixture,  and  use  the  embrocation  every  second  day. 

10th  April. — She  has  mange  in  the  bend  of  her  arm,  and  on  her  chest. 
Use  the  sulphur  ointment  and  alterative  balls,  and  omit  the  embrocation 
and  mixture.  In  less  than  a  week  she  nearly  recovered  from  her  lame- 
ness, and  ran  about  almost  as  well  as  ever.  30^.  She  runs  about  very 
fairly,  but  the  mange  has  assumed  that  character  of  scurvy  which  I  do  not 
know  how  to  grapple  with.  Continue  the  alterative  balls,  and  the  ointment. 

18th  May. — The  mange  has  disappeared,  but  the  palsy  is  returning; 
she  staggers  slightly,  and  droops  behind.  Give  the  castor-oil  mixture 
and  use  the  embrocation. 

14th  June. — Mange  quite  gone,  but  palsy  continues  to  a  very  con- 
siderable degree.  I  want  to  use  the  plaster ;  but  the  keeper  pleads  for  a 
little  delay.  Continue  the  treatment. 

1st  July. — I  have  at  length  determined  to  have  recourse  to  the  charge. 
A  piece  of  thick  sheep's  leather  was  fitted  to  her  loins  and  haunches. 
18th.  She  appears  to  be  improving,  but  it  is  very  slowly.  31st.  Very 
little  change.  The  plaster  keeps  on  well :  she  has  no  power  over  her 
hind  limbs ;  but  she  eats  and  drinks  as  well  as  ever. 

23rd  August.  —  No  change.  Give  her  half  a  grain  of  strychnia, 
morning  and  night.  26th.  That  singular  secretion  of  milk,  to  which  the 
bitch  is  subject  nine  weeks  after  oestrum,  is  now  appearing.  Her  mammae 
are  enlarged,  and  I  can  squeeze  a  considerable  quantity  of  milk  out  of  the 
teats.  Give  an  aloetic  pill,  and  continue  the  strychnia.  31st.  The  secre- 
tion of  milk  continues.  There  is  slight  enlargement  and  some  heat  of  the 
mammae ;  but  she  feeds  as  well  as  ever.  Increase  the  dose  of  strychnia 
to  three-quarters  of  a  grain. 

On  the  following  day  she  was  found  dead.  In  making  the  usual  longi- 
tudinal incision  through  the  integuments  of  the  abdomen,  a  considerable 
quantity  of  milky  fluid,  mingled  with  blood,  followed  the  knife.  There 


PALSY.  127 

was  very  slight  enlargement  of  the  teats,  but  intense  inflammation  of  the 
whole  of  the  mammary  substance.  The  omentum,  and  particularly  the 
portion  opposite  to  the  external  disease,  was  also  inflamed.  Besides  this 
there  was  not  a  vestige  of  disease. 

This  is  an  interesting  case,  and  deserves  record.  I  fear  that  justice 
was  not  done  to  the  animal  at  the  commencement  of  the  paralytic  affection. 
In  nineteen  cases  out  of  twenty  in  the  dog,  the  constant  but  mild  stimulus 
of  a  charge  over  the  lumbar  and  sacral  regions  removes  the  deeper- 
seated  inflammation  of  the  spinal  cord  or  its  membranes,  when  the  palsy 
is  confined  to  the  hind  extremities,  and  has  not  been  sufficiently  long 
established  to  produce  serious  change  of  structure.  The  charge  should 
have  been  applied  at  first.  The  almost  total  disappearance  of  the  palsy 
during  the  cutaneous  disease,  which  was  attended  with  more  than  usual 
inflammation  of  the  integument,  is  an  instructive  illustration  of  the  power 
of  counter-irritation,  and  of  what  might  possibly  have  been  effected  in  the 
first  case ;  for  much  time  was  lost  before  the  application  of  the  charge,  and 
when  at  length  it  was  applied,  it  and  the  strychnia  were  powerless. 

I  consider  the  following  case  as  exceedingly  valuable,  at  least  with  re- 
ference to  the  power  of  strychnia  in  removing  palsy : — 

19th  August,  1836. — A  fine  Alpine  dog  was  suddenly  attacked  with  a 
strange  nervous  affection.  He  was  continually  staggering  about  and 
falling.  His  head  was  forcibly  bent  backward  and  a  little  on  orje  side, 
almost  to  his  shoulder.  A  pound  of  blood  was  abstracted,  a  seton  inserted 
from  ear  to  ear,  and  eight  grains  of  calomel  administered.  2 1st.  He  has 
perfectly  lost  the  use  of  every  limb.  He  has  also  amaurosis,  perfect  blind- 
ness, which  had  not  appeared  the  day  before.  He  hears  perfectly,  and  he 
eats,  and  with  appetite,  when  the  food  is  put  into  his  mouth.  Gave  him 
two  large  spoonfuls  of  the  castor-oil  mixture  daily ;  this  consists  of  three 
parts  of  castor  oil,  two  of  syrup  of  buck-thorn,  and  one  of  syrup  of  white 
poppies.  23rd.  A  little  better ;  can  lift  his  head  and  throw  it  upon  his 
side,  and  will  still  eat  when  fed.  Continue  the  mixture,  and  give  half  a 
grain  of  strychnia  daily.  24th.  Little  change.  27th.  No  change,  except 
that  he  is  rapidly  losing  flesh.  Continue  the  treatment.  31  st.  The 
strychnia  increased  to  three-fourths  of  a  grain  morning  and  night.  The 
castor-oil  mixture  continued  in  its  full  quantity.  He  was  fed  well,  but 
there  was  a  sunken,  vacant  expression  of  countenance. 

2nd  September. — He  can  move  his  head  a  little,  and  has  some  slight 
motion  in  his  limbs.  4th.  He  can  almost  get  up.  He  recognises  me  for 
the  first  time.  His  appetite,  which  was  never  much  impaired,  has  returned  : 
this  is  to  be  attributed  to  strychnia,  or  the  seton,  or  the  daily  aperient  mix- 
ture. They  have  all,  perhaps,  been  serviceable,  but  I  attribute  most  to  the 
strychnia ;  for  I  have  rarely,  indeed,  seen  any  dog  recover  from  such  an 
attack.  Continue  the  treatment.  6th.  Fast  recovering.  Medicine  as  be- 
fore. 14th.  Improving,  but  not  so  fast  as  before.  Still  continue  the 
treatment.  2Sth.  Going  on  slowly,  but  satisfactorily.  Remove  the  seton, 
but  continue  the  other  treatment. 

13th  October.— Quite  well. 


128  RABIES. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

RABIES. 

WE  are  now  arrived  at  one  of  the  most  important  subjects  in  veterinary 
pathology.  In  other  cases  the  comfort  and  the  existence  of  our  quadruped 
patients  are  alone  or  chiefly  involved,  but  here  the  lives  of  our  employers, 
and  our  own  too,  are  at  stake,  and  may  be  easily,  and  too  often  are,  com- 
promised. Here  also,  however  other  portions  of  the  chain  may  be  over- 
looked or  denied,  we  have  the  link  which  most  of  all  connects  the 
veterinary  surgeon  with  the  practitioner  of  human  medicine  ;  or,  rather, 
here  is  the  circumscribed  but  valued  spot  where  the  veterinary  surgeon 
has  the  vantage-ground. 

In  describing  the  nature,  and  cause  and  treatment  of  rabies,  it  will  be 
most  natural  to  take  the  animal  in  which  it  oftenest  appears,  by  which  it 
is  most  frequently  propagated  ;  the  time  at  which  the  danger  commences, 
and  the  usual  period  before  the  death  of  the  patient. 

Some  years  ago  a  dog,  naturally  ferocious,  bit  a  child  at  Lisson  Grove. 
The  child,  to  all  appearance  previously  well,  died  on  the  third  day,  and 
an  inquest  was  to  be  held  on  the  body  in  the  evening.  The  Coroner 
ordered  the  dog  to  be  sent  to  me  for  examination.  The  animal  was,  con- 
trary to  his  usual  habit,  perfectly  tractable.  This  will  appear  to  be  of 
some  importance  hereafter.  I  examined  him  carefully.  No  suspicious 
circumstance  could  be  found  about  him.  There  was  no  appearance  of 
rabies.  In  the  mean  time  the  inquest  took  place,  and  the  corpse  of  the 
child  was  carefully  examined.  One  medical  gentleman  thought  that  there 
were  some  suspicious  appearances  about  the  stomach,  and  another  believed 
that  there  was  congestion  of  the  brain. 

The  owner  of  the  dog  begged  that  the  animal  might  not  be  taken  from 
him,  but  might  accompany  him  home.  He  took  him  home  arid  destroyed 
him  that  no  experiments  might  be  made. 

With  great  difficulty  we  procured  the  carcass,  and  from  some  inflamma- 
tory appearances  about  the  tongue  and  the  stomach,  and  the  presence  of  a 
small  portion  of  indigestible  matter  in  the  stomach,  we  were  unanimously 
of  opinion  that  the  dog  was  rabid. 

I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  the  child  died  hydrophobous,  or  that  its  death 
was  accelerated  by  the  nascent  disease  existing  in  the  dog.  There  was 
probably  some  nervous  affection  that  hastened  the  death  of  the  infant,  and 
the  dog  bit  the  child  at  the  very  period  when  the  malady  first  began  to 
develope  itself.  On  the  following  day  there  were  morbid  lesions  enough 
to  prove  beyond  doubt  that  he  was  rabid. 

This  case  is  introduced  because  I  used  afterwards  to  accompany  every 
examination  of  supposed  or  doubtful  rabies  with  greater  caution  than  I 
probably  had  previously  used. 

It  is  occasionally  very  difficult  to  detect  the  existence  of  rabies  in  its 
nascent  state.  In  the  year  1813,  a  child  attempted  to  rob  a  dog  of  its 
morning  food,  and  the  animal  resisting  the  theft,  the  child  was  slightly 
scratched  by  its  teeth.  No  one  dreamed  of  danger.  Eight  days  after- 


RABIES.  129 

wards  symptoms  of  rabies  appeared  in  the  dog,  the  malady  ran  its  course, 
and  the  animal  died.  A  few  days  afterwards  the  child  sickened— undoubted 
characteristics  of  rabies  were  observed — they  ran  their  course  and  the  infant 
was  lost. 

There  are  other  cases — fortunately  not  numerous — in  the  records  of 
human  surgery,  resembling  this.  A  person  has  been  bitten  by  a  dog,  he 
has  paid  little  or  no  attention  to  it,  and  no  application  of  the  caustic  has 
been  made.  Some  weeks,  or  even  months,  have  passed,  he  has  nearly  or 
quite  forgotten  the  affair,  when  he  becomes  languid  and  feverish,  and  full 
of  fearful  apprehensions,  and  this  appearing  perhaps  during  several  days, 
or  more  than  a  week.  The  empoisonment  has  then  ceased  to  be  a  local 
affair,  the  virus  has  entered  into  the  circulation,  and  its  impression  is  made 
on  the  constitution  generally.  Fortunately  the  disposition  to  bite  rarely 
develops  itself  until  the  full  establishment  of  the  disease,  otherwise  we 
might  sometimes  inquire  whether  it  were  not  our  duty  to  exterminate  the 
whole  race  of  dogs. 

The  following  case  deserves  to  be  recorded  :  on  the  21st  of  October, 
1813,  a  dog  was  brought  to  me  for  examination.  He  had  vomited  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  coagulated  blood.  I  happened  to  be  particularly 
busy  at  the  moment,  and  not  observing  anything  peculiar  in  his  counte-. 
nance  or  manner,  I  ordered  some  astringent  sedative  medicine  and  said 
that  I  would  see  him  again  in  the  afternoon. 

In  the  course  of  the  afternoon  he  was  again  brought.  The  vomiting 
had  quite  ceased.  His  mouth  seemed  to  be  swollen,  and,  on  examining 
him,  I  found  that  some  of  his  incisor  teeth  both  in  the  upper  and  lower 
jaw  had  been  torn  out.  This  somewhat  alarmed  me,  and,  on  inquiring  of 
the  servant,  I  was  told  that  he  suspected  that  they  had  had  thieves  about 
the  house  on  the  preceding  night ;  for  the  dog  had  torn  away  the  side  of 
his  kennel  in  attempting  to  get  at  them.  I  scolded  him  for  not  having 
told  me  of  this  in  the  morning :  and  then,  talking  of  various  things  in 
order  to  prolong  the  time  and  to  be  able  closely  to  watch  my  patient,  I 
saw,  or  thought  I  saw,  but  in  a  very  slight  degree,  that  the  animal  was 
tracing  the  fancied  path  of  some  imaginary  object.  I  was  then  truly 
alarmed,  and  more  especially  since  I  had  discovered  that  in  the  giving  of 
the  physic  in  the  morning  the  man's  hand  had  been  scratched  ;  a  youth  had 
suffered  the  dog  to  lick  his  sore  finger,  and  the  animal  had  also  been 
observed  to  lick  the  sore  ear  of  an  infant.  He  was  a  remarkably  affec- 
tionate dog,  and  was  accustomed  to  this  abominable  and  inexcusable 
nonsense. 

I  insisted  on  detaining  the  dog,  and  gave  the  man  a  letter  to  the  sur- 
geon, telling  him  all  my  fears.  He  promptly  acted  on  the  hint,  and  before 
evening,  the  proper  means  were  taken  with  regard  to  all  three. 

I  watched  this  dog  day  after  day.  He  would  not  eat,  but  he  drank  a 
great  deal  more  water  than  I  liked.  The  surgeon  was  evidently  beginning 
to  doubt  whether  I  was  not  wrong,  but  he  could  not  dispute  the  occasional 
wandering  of  the  eye,  and  the  frequent  spume  upon  the  water.  On  the 
26th  of  October,  however,  the  sixth  day  after  his  arrival,  we  both  of  us 
heard  the  rabid  howl  burst  from  him  ;  he  did  not,  however,  die  until  the 
30th.  I  mention  this  as  another  instance  of  the  great  difficulty  there  is 
to  determine  the  real  nature  of  the  case  in  an  early  stage  of  the  disease. 

M.  Perquin  relates  an  interesting  case.  A  lady  had  a  greyhound,  nine 
years  old,  that  was  accustomed  to  lie  upon  her  bed  at  night,  and  cover 

K 


130  RABIES. 

himself  with  the  bed-clothes.  She  remarked,  one  morning,  that  he  had 
torn  the  covering  of  his  bed,  and,  although  he  eat  but  little,  drank  pftener, 
and  in  larger  quantity,  than  he  was  accustomed  to  do.  She  led  him  to  a 
veterinary  surgeon,  who  assured  her  that  there  was  nothing  serious  the 
matter.  On  the  following  day,  he  bit  her  fore-finger  near  the  nail,  as  she 
was  giving  him  something  to  eat.  She  led  him  again  to  the  veterinary 
surgeon,  who  assured  her  that  she  needed  not  to  be  under  the  least  alarm, 
and,  as  for  the  little  wound  on  her  finger,  it  was  of  no  consequence.  On 
the  following  day,  the  27th  of  December,  the  dog  died.  He  had  not 
ceased  to  drink  most  abundantly  to  the  very  last. 

On  the  4th  of  February,  as  the  lady  was  dining  with  her  husband,  she 
found  some  difficulty  in  deglutition.  She  wished  to  take  some  wine,  but 
was  unable  to  swallow  it. 

On  the  5th,  she  consulted  a  surgeon.  He  wished  her  to  swallow  a  little 
soup  in  his  presence.  She  attempted  to  do  it,  but  could  not  accomplish 
her  object  after  many  an  effort.  She  then  fell  into  a  state  of  violent  agita- 
tion, with  constriction  of  the  pharynx,  and  the  discharge  of  a  viscid  fluid 
from  the  mouth. 

On  the  7th,  she  died,  four  days  after  the  first  attack  of  the  disease,  and 
in  a  state  of  excessive  loss  of  flesh. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  both  the  dog  and  his  mistress  died  rabid, 
the  former  having  communicated  the  disease  to  the  latter ;  but  there  is  no 
satisfactory  account  of  the  manner  in  which  the  dog  became  diseased.8 

Joseph  Delmaire,  of  Looberghe,  twenty-nine  years  old,  was,  on  the  6th 
of  October,  1836,  bitten  in  the  hand  by  a  dog  that  he  met  with  in  the 
forest,  and  that  was  evidently  rabid.  On  the  following  morning,  he  went 
to  a  medical  man  of  some  repute  in  the  country,  who  washed  the  wound, 
and  scarified  it,  and  terminated  the  operation  by  tracing  a  bloody  cross  on 
the  forehead  of  the  patient. 

He  returned  home,  but  he  was  far  from  being  satisfied.  The  image 
of  the  dog  that  had  attacked  him  was  always  before  him,  and  his  sleep 
was  troubled  with  the  most  frightful  dreams.  So  passed  four-and-twenty 
days,  when  Delmaire,  rising  from  his  bed,  felt  the  most  dreadful  trepidation 
— he  panted  violently — it  seemed  as  if  an  enormous  weight  oppressed  his 
chest,  and  from  time  to  time  there  was  profound  sighing  and  sobbing. 
He  complained  every  moment  that  he  was  smothered.  He  attempted  to 
drink,  but  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  a  few  drops  of  barley  water  were 
swallowed.  His  mouth  was  dry — his  throat  burning — his  thirst  excessive, 
and  all  that  he  attempted  to  swallow  was  rejected  with  horror. 

At  nine  o'clock  at  night  he  was  largely  bled.  His  respiration  was  more 
free,  but  the  dread  of  every  fluid  remained.  After  an  hour's  repose,  he 
started  and  felt  the  most  fearful  pain  in  every  limb — his  whole  body  was 
agitated  with  violent  convulsions.  The  former  place  of  bleeding  was  re- 
opened and  a  great  quantity  of  blood  escaped.  The  pulse  became  small 
and  accelerated.  The  countenance  was  dreadful — the  eyes  were  starting 
from  their  sockets — he  continually  sprung  from  his  seat,  and  uttered  the 
most  fearful  howling.  A  quantity  of  foam  filled  his  mouth,  and  compelled 
a  continual  expectoration.  In  his  violent  fits  the  strength  of  six  men  was 
not  sufficient  to  keep  him  on  his  bed.  In  the  midst  of  a  sudden  recess  of 
fury  he  would  disengage  himself  from  all  that  were  attempting  to  hold 

8  La  Folie  des  Animaux,  by  M.  Perquin. 


RABIES.  131 

him,  and  dash  himself  on  the  floor;  there,  freed  from  all  control,  he 
rolled  about,  beat  himself,  and  tore  everything  that  he  could  reach.  In 
the  short  intervals  that  separated  these  crises,  he  regained  possession  of  his 
reasoning  powers :  he  begged  his  old  father  to  pardon  him,  he  talked  to 
him  and  to  those  around  with  the  most  intense  affection,  and  it  was  only 
when  he  felt  that  a  new  attack  was  at  hand,  that  he  prayed  them  to  leave 
him.  At  length  his  mental  excitation  began  to  subside ;  his  strength  was 
worn  out,  and  he  suffered  himself  to  be  placed  on  his  bed.  The  horrible 
convulsions  from  time  to  time  returned,  but  the  dread  of  liquors  had 
ceased.  He  demanded  something  to  drink.  They  gave  him  a  little  white 
wine ;  but  he  was  unable  to  swallow  it :  it  was  returned  through  his 
nostrils.  The  poor  fellow  then  endeavoured  to  sleep  ;  but  it  was  soon  per- 
ceived that  he  had  ceased  to  live. 

The  early  symptoms  of  rabies  in  the  dog  are  occasionally  very  obscure. 
In  the  greater  number  of  cases,  these  are  sullenriess,  fidgetiness,  and  con- 
tinual shifting  of  posture.  Where  I  have  had  opportunity,  I  have  generally 
found  these  circumstances  in  regular  succession.  For  several  consecutive 
hours  perhaps  he  retreats  to  his  basket  or  his  bed.  He  shows  no  disposi- 
tion to  bite,  and  he  answers  the  call  upon  him  laggardly.  He  is  curled 
up  and  his  face  is  buried  between  his  paws  and  his  breast.  At  length  he 
begins  to  be  fidgety.  He  searches  out  new  resting-places ;  but  he  very 
soon  changes  them  for  others.  He  takes  again  to  his  own  bed  ;  but  he  is 
continually  shifting  his  posture.  He  begins  to  gaze  strangely  about  him 
as  he  lies  on  his  bed.  His  countenance  is  clouded  and  suspicious.  He 
comes  to  one  and  another  of  the  family,  and  he  fixes  on  them  a  steadfast 
gaze  as  if  he  would  read  their  very  thoughts.  "  I  feel  strangely  ill,"  he 
seems  to  say  :  "  have  you  anything  to  do  with  it  ?  or  you  ?  or  you  ?"  Has 
not  a  dog  mind  enough  for  this  ?  If  we  have  observed  a  rabid  dog  at 
the  commencement  of  the  disease,  we  have  seen  this  to  the  very  life. 

There  is  a  species  of  dog — the  small  French  poodle — the  essence  of 
whose  character  and  constitution  is  fidgetiness  or  perpetual  motion. 

If  this  dog  has  been  bitten,  and  rabies  is  about  to  establish  itself,  he 
is  the  most  irritative  restless  being  that  can  be  conceived  of;  starting  con- 
vulsively at  the  slightest  sound ;  disposing  of  his  bed  in  every  direction, 
seeking  out  one  retreat  after  another  in  order  to  rest  his  wearied  frame, 
but  quiet  only  for  a  moment  in  any  one,  and  the  motion  of  his  limbs  fre- 
quently simulating  chorea  and  even  epilepsy. 

A  peculiar  delirium  is  an  early  symptom,  and  one  that  will  never 
deceive.  A  young  man  had  been  bitten  by  one  of  his  dogs ;  I  was 
requested  to  meet  a  medical  gentleman  on  the  subject :  I  was  a  little 
behind  my  time ;  as  I  entered  the  room  I  found  the  dog  eagerly  devouring 
a  pan  of  sopped  bread.  "  There  is  no  madness  here,"  said  the  gentleman. 
He  had  scarcely  spoken,  when  in  a  moment  the  dog  quitted  the  sop,  and, 
with  a  furious  bark  sprung  against  the  wall  as  if  he  would  seize  some 
imaginary  object  that  he  fancied  was  there.  "  Did  you  see  that  ?"  was  my 
reply.  "  What  do  you  think  of  it?"  "  I  see  nothing  in  it,"  was  his  re- 
tort :  "  the  dog  heard  some  noise  on  the  other  side  of  the  wall."  At  my 
serious  urging,  however,  he  consented  to  excise  the  part.  I  procured  a 
poor  worthless  cur,  and  got  him  bitten  by  this  dog,  and  carried  the  disease 
from  this  dog  to  the  third  victim  :  they  all  became  rabid  one  after  the 
other,  and  there  my  experiment  ended.  The  serious  matter  under  con- 
sideration, perhaps,  justified  me  in  going  so  far  as  I  did. 

K  2 


132  RABIES. 

This  kind  of  delirium  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the  human  patient. 
The  account  given  by  Dr.  Bardsley  of  one  of  his  patients  is  very  appro- 
priate to  our  present  purpose :  "I  observed  that  he  frequently  fixed  his 
eyes  with  horror  and  affright  on  some  ideal  object,  and  then,  with  a 
sudden  and  violent  emotion,  buried  his  head  beneath  the  bed-clothes.  The 
next  time  I  saw  him  repeat  this  action,  I  was  induced  to  inquire  into  the 
cause  of  his  terror.  He  asked  whether  I  had  not  heard  howlings  and 
scratchings.  On  being  answered  in  the  negative,  he  suddenly  threw  him- 
self on  his  knees,  extending  his  arms  in  a  defensive  posture,  and  forcibly 
threw  back  his  head  and  body.  The  muscles  of  the  face  were  agitated  by 
various  spasmodic  contractions ;  his  eye-balls  glazed,  and  seemed  ready  to 
start  from  their  sockets ;  and,  at  that  moment,  when  crying  out  in  an 
agonizing  tone,  *  Do  you  not  see  that  black  dog  ?'  his  countenance  and 
attitude  exhibited  the  most  dreadful  picture  of  complicated  horror,  dis- 
tress, and  rage  that  words  can  describe  or  imagination  paint." 

I  have  again  and  again  seen  the  rabid  dog  start  up  after  a  momentary 
quietude,  with  unmingled  ferocity  depicted  on  his  countenance,  and  plunge 
with  a  savage  howl  to  the  end  of  his  chain.  At  other  times  he  would 
stop  and  watch  the  nails  in  the  partition  of  the  stable  in  which  he  was 
confined,  and  fancying  them  to  move  he  would  dart  at  them,  and  occasion- 
ally sadly  bruise  and  injure  himself  from  being  no  longer  able  to  measure 
the  distance  of  the  object.  In  one  of  his  sudden  fits  of  violence  a  rabid 
dog  strangled  the  Cardinal  Crescence,  the  Legate  of  the  Pope,  at  the 
Council  of  Trent  in  1532. 

M.  Magendie  has  often  injected  into  the  veins  of  an  hydrophobous  dog 
as  much  as  five  grains  of  opium  without  producing  any  effect ;  while  a 
single  grain  given  to  a  healthy  dog  would  suffice  to  send  him  almost  to 
sleep. 

One  of  Mr.  Babington's  patients  thought  that  there  was  a  cloud  of  flies 
about  him.  "  Why  do  you  not  kill  those  flies?"  he  would  cry  ;  and  then 
he  would  strike  at  them  with  his  hand,  and  shrink  under  the  bed-clothes, 
in  the  most  dreadful  fear. 

There  is  also  in  the  human  being  a  peculiarity  in  this  delirium  which 
seems  to  distinguish  it  from  every  other  kind  of  mental  aberration.  "  The 
patient,"  in  Mr.  Lawrence's  language,"  is  pursued  by  a  thousand  phantoms 
that  intrude  themselves  upon  his  mind;  he  holds  conversation  with  imaginary 
persons  ;  he  fancies  himself  surrounded  with  difficulties,  and  in  the  greatest 
distress.  These  thoughts  seem  to  pass  through  his  mind  with  wonderful 
rapidity,  and  to  keep  him  in  a  state  of  the  greatest  distress,  unless  he  is 
quickly  spoken  to  or  addressed  by  his  name,  and,  then,  in  a  moment  the 
charm  is  broken  ;  every  phantom  of  imagination  disappears,  and  at  once 
he  begins  to  talk  as  calmly  and  as  connectedly  as  in  perfect  health." 

So  it  is  with  the  dog,  whether  he  is  watching  the  motes  that  are  floating 
in  the  air,  or  the  insects  that  are  annoying  him  on  the  walls,  or  the  foes 
that  he  fancies  are  threatening  him  on  every  side — one  word  recalls  him 
in  a  moment.  Dispersed  by  the  magic  influence  of  his  master's  voice, 
every  object  of  terror  disappears,  and  he  crawls  towards  him  with  the  same 
peculiar  expression  of  attachment  that  used  to  characterise  him. 

Then  comes  a  moment's  pause — a  moment  of  actual  vacuity — the  eye 
slowly  closes,  the  head  droops,  and  he  seems  as  if  his  fore  feet  were  giving 
way,  and  he  would  fall :  but  he  springs  up  again,  every  object  of  terror 
once  more  surrounds  him — he  gazes  wildly  around— he  snaps— he  barks, 


RABIES.  133 

and  he  rushes  to  the  extent  of  his  chain,  prepared  to  meet  his  imagi- 
nary foe. 

The  expression  of  the  countenance  of  the  dog  undergoes  a  considerable 
change,  principally  dependent  on  the  previous  disposition  of  the  animal. 
If  he  was  naturally  of  an  affectionate  disposition,  there  will  be  an  anxious, 
inquiring  countenance,  eloquent,  beyond  the  power  of  resisting  its  influ- 
ence. It  is  made  up  of  strange  suppositions  as  to  the  nature  of  the  depression 
of  mind  under  which  he  labours,  mingled  with  some  passing  doubts,  and 
they  are  but  passing,  as  to  the  concern  which  the  master  has  in  the  affair  ; 
but,  most  of  all,  there  is  an  affectionate  and  confiding  appeal  for  relief. 
At  the  same  time  we  observe  some  strange  fancy,  evidently  passing  through 
his  mind,  unalloyed,  however,  by  the  slightest  portion  of  ferocity. 

In  the  countenance  of  the  naturally  savage  brute,  or  him  that  has  been 
trained  to  be  savage,  there  is  indeed  a  fearful  change  ;  sometimes  the  con- 
junctiva is  highly  injected  ;  at  other  times  it  is  scarcely  affected,  but  the 
eyes  have  an  unusually  bright  and  dazzling  appearance.  They  are  like  two 
balls  of  fire,  and  there  is  a  peculiar  transparency  of  the  hyaloid  membrane, 
or  injection  of  that  of  the  retina. 

A  very  early  symptom  of  rabies  in  the  dog,  is  an  extreme  degree  of 
restlessness.  Frequently,  he  is  almost  invariably  wandering  about,  shifting 
from  corner  to  corner,  or  continually  rising  up  and  lying  down,  changing 
his  posture  in  every  possible  way,  disposing  of  his  bed  with  his  paws, 
shaking  it  with  his  mouth,  bringing  it  to  a  heap,  on  which  he  carefully 
lays  his  chest,  or  rather  the  pit  of  his  stomach,  and  then  rising  up  and 
bundling  every  portion  of  it  out  of  the  kennel.  If  he  is  put  into  a  closed 
basket  he  will  not  be  still  for  an  instant,  but  turn  round  and  round  with- 
out ceasing.  If  he  is  at  liberty,  he  will  seem  to  imagine  that  something 
is  lost,  and  he  will  eagerly  search  round  the  room,  and  particularly  every 
corner  of  it,  with  strange  violence  and  indecision. 

In  a  very  great  portion  of  cases  of  hydrophobia  in  the  human  being, 
there  is,  as  a  precursory  symptom,  uneasiness,  pain,  or  itching  of  the  bitten 
part.  A  red  line  may  also  be  traced  up  the  limb,  in  the  direction  of  the 
lymphatics.  In  a  few  cases  the  wound  opens  afresh. 

The  poison  is  now  beginning  fatally  to  act  on  the  tissue,  on  which  it  had 
previously  lain  harmless.  When  the  conversation  has  turned  on  this  sub- 
ject, long  after  the  bitten  part  has  been  excised,  pain  has  darted  along  the 
limb.  I  have  been  bitten  much  oftener  than  I  liked,  by  dogs  decidedly 
rabid,  but,  proper  means  being  taken,  I  have  escaped ;  and  yet  often, 
when  I  have  been  over-fatigued,  or  a  little  out  of  temper,  some  of  the  old 
sores  have  itched  and  throbbed,  and  actually  become  red  and  swollen. 

The  dog  appears  to  suffer  a  great  deal  of  pain  in  the  ear  in  common 
canker.  He  will  be  almost  incessantly  scratching  it,  crying  piteously 
while  thus  employed.  The  ear  is,  oftener  than  any  other  part,  bitten  by 
the  rabid  dog,  and,  when  a  wound  in  the  ear,  inflicted  by  a  rabid  dog, 
begins  to  become  painful,  the  agony  appears  to  be  of  the  intensest  kind. 
The  dog  rubs  his  ear  against  every  projecting  body,  he  scratches  it  might 
and  main,  and  tumbles  over  and  over  while  he  is  thus  employed. 

The  young  practitioner  should  be  on  his  guard  there.  Is  this  dreadful 
itching  a  thing  of  yesterday,  or,  has  the  dog  been  subject  to  canker,  in- 
creasing for  a  considerable  period.  Canker  both  internal  and  external  is 
a  disease  of  slow  growth,  and  must  have  been  long  neglected  before  it 
will  torment  the  patient  in  the  manner  that  I  have  described.  The  ques- 


134  RABIES. 

tion  as  to  the  length  of  time  that  an  animal  has  thus  suffered  will  usually 
be  a  sufficient  guide. 

The  mode  in  which  he  expresses  his  torture  will  serve  as  another 
direction.  He  will  often  scratch  violently  enough  when  he  has  canker, 
but  he  will  not  roll  over  and  over  like  a  football  except  he  is  rabid.  If 
there  is  very  considerable  inflammation  of  the  lining  membrane  of  the  ear, 
and  engorgement  and  ulceration  of  it,  this  is  the  effect  of  canker  ;  but  if 
there  is  only  a  slight  redness  of  the  membrane,  or  no  redness  at  all,  and 
yet  the  dog  is  incessantly  and  violently  scratching  himself,  it  is  too  likely 
that  rabies  is  at  hand. 

In  the  early  stage  of  rabies,  the  attachment  of  the  dog  towards  his  owner 
seems  to  be  rapidly  increased,  and  the  expression  of  that  feeling.  He  is 
employed,  almost  without  ceasing,  licking  the  hands,  or  face,  or  any  part 
he  can  get  at.  Females,  and  men  too,  are  occasionally  apt  to  permit  the 
dog,  when  in  health,  to  indulge  this  filthy  and  very  dangerous  habit  with 
regard  to  them.  The  virus,  generated  under  the  influence  of  rabies,  is 
occasionally  deposited  on  a  wounded  or  abraded  surface,  and  in  process  of 
time  produces  a  similar  disease  in  the  person  that  has  been  so  inoculated 
by  it.  Therefore  it  is  that  the  surgeon  so  anxiously  inquires  of  the  person 
that  has  been  bitten,  and  of  all  those  to  whom  the  dog  has  had  access, 
"  Has  he  been  accustomed  to  lick  you  ?  have  you  any  sore  places  about 
you  that  can  by  possibility  have  been  licked  by  him  ?"  If  there  are,  the 
person  is  in  fully  as  much  danger  as  if  he  had  been  bitten,  and  it  is  quite 
as  necessary  to  destroy  the  part  with  which  the  virus  may  have  come  in 
contact.  A  lady  once  lost  her  life  by  suffering  her  dog  to  lick  a  pimple 
on  her  chin. 

There  is  a  beautiful  species  of  dog,  often  the  inhabitant  of  the  gentle- 
man's stable — the  Dalmatian  or  coach  dog.  He  has,  perhaps,  less  affec- 
tion for  the  human  species  than  any  other  dog,  except  the  greyhound  and 
the  bull-dog  ;  he  has  less  sagacity  than  most  others,  and  certainly  less 
courage.  He  is  attached  to  the  stable ;  he  is  the  friend  of  the  horse  ;  they 
live  under  the  same  roof;  they  share  the  same  bed  ;  and,  when  the  horse  is 
summoned  to  his  work,  the  dog  accompanies  every  step.  They  are  cer- 
tainly beautiful  dogs,  and  it  is  pleasing  to  see  the  thousand  expressions  of 
friendship  between  them  arid  the  horse  ;  but,  in  their  continual  excursions 
through  the  streets,  they  are  exposed  to  some  danger,  and  particularly  to 
that  of  being  bitten  by  rabid  dogs.  It  is  a  fearful  business  when  this  takes 
place.  The  coachman  probably  did  not  see  the  affray  ;  no  suspicion  has 
been  excited.  The  horse  rubs  his  muzzle  on  the  dog,  and  the  dog  licks 
the  face  of  the  horse,  and  in  a  great  number  of  cases  the  disease  is  com- 
municated from  the  one  to  the  other.  The  dog  in  process  of  time  dies, 
the  horse  does  not  long  survive,  and,  frequently  too,  the  coachman  shares 
their  fate.  I  have  known  at  least  twenty  horses  destroyed  in  this  way. 

A  depraved  appetite  is  a  frequent  attendant  on  rabies  in  the  dog.  He 
refuses  his  usual  food  ;  he  frequently  turns  from  it  with  an  evident  expres- 
sion of  disgust ;  at  other  times,  he  seizes  it  with  greater  or  less  avidity, 
and  then  drops  it,  sometimes  from  disgust,  at  other  times  because  he  is 
unable  to  complete  the  mastication  of  it.  This  palsy  of  the  organs  of 
masticatien,  and  dropping  of  the  food,  after  it  has  been  partly  chewed,  is 
a  symptom  on  which  implicit  confidence  may  be  placed. 

Some  dogs  vomit  once  or  twice  in  the  early  period  of  the  disease :  when 
this  happens,  they  never  return  to  the  natural  food  of  the  dog,  but  are  eager 


RABIES.  135 

for  every  thing  that  is  filthy  and  horrible.  The  natural  appetite  generally 
fails  entirely,  and  to  it  succeeds  a  strangely  depraved  one.  The  dog 
usually  occupies  himself  with  gathering  every  little  bit  of  thread,  and  it  is 
curious  to  observe  with  what  eagerness  and  method  he  sets  to  work,  and 
how  completely  he  effects  his  object.  He  then  attacks  every  kind  of  dirt 
and  filth,  horse-dung,  his  own  dung,  and  human  excrement.  Some  breeds 
of  spaniels  are  very  filthy  feeders  without  its  being  connected  with  disease, 
but  the  rabid  dog  eagerly  selects  the  excrement  of  the  horse,  and  his  own. 
Some  considerable  care,  however,  must  be  exercised  here.  At  the  period 
of  dentition,  and  likewise  at  the  commencement  of  the  sexual  affection, 
the  stomach  of  the  dog,  and  particularly  that  of  the  bitch,  sympathises 
with,  or  shares  in,  the  irritability  of  the  gums,  and  of  the  constitution  gene- 
rally, and  there  is  a  considerably  perverted  appetite.  The  dog  also  feels 
the  same  propensity  that  influences  the  child,  that  of  taking  hard  sub- 
stances into  the  mouth,  and  seemingly  trying  to  masticate  them.  Their 
pressure  on  the  gums  facilitates  the  passage  of  the  new  teeth.  A  young 
dog  will,  therefore,  be  observed  gathering  up  hard  substances,  and,  if  he 
should  chance  to  die,  a  not  inconsiderable  collection  of  them  is  sometimes 
found  in  the  stomach.  They  are,  however,  of  a  peculiar  character ;  they 
consist  of  small  pieces  of  bone,  stick,  and  coal. 

The  contents  of  the  stomach  of  the  rabid  dog,  are  often,  or  generally, 
of  a  most  filthy  description.  Some  hair  or  straw  is  usually  found,  but  the 
greater  part  is  composed  of  horse-dung,  or  of  his  own  dung,  and  it  may  be 
received  as  a  certainty,  that  if  he  is  found  deliberately  devouring  it,  he 
is  rabid. 

Some  very  important  conclusions  may  be  drawn  from  the  appearance 
and  character  of  the  urine.  The  dog,  and  at  particular  times  when  he  is 
more  than  usually  salacious,  may,  and  does  diligently  search  the  urining 
places  ;  he  may  even,  at  those  periods,  be  seen  to  lick  the  spot  which 
another  has  just  wetted  ;  but,  if  a  peculiar  eagerness  accompanies  this 
strange  employment,  if,  in  the  parlour,  which  is  rarely  disgraced  by  this 
evacuation,  every  corner  is  perseveringly  examined,  and  licked  with  un- 
wearied and  unceasing  industry,  that  dog  cannot  be  too  carefully  watched, 
there  is  great  danger  about  him ;  he  may,  without  any  other  symptom  be 
pronounced  to  be  decidedly  rabid.  I  never  knew  a  single  mistake  about 
this. 

Much  has  been  said  of  the  profuse  discharge  of  saliva  from  the  mouth 
of  the  rabid  dog.  It  is  an  undoubted  fact  that,  in  this  disease,  all  the  glands 
concerned  in  the  secretion  of  saliva,  become  increased  in  bulk  and  vascu- 
larity.  The  sublingual  glands  wear  an  evident  character  of  inflammation  ; 
but  it  never  equals  the  increased  discharge  that  accompanies  epilepsy,  or 
nausea.  The  frothy  spume  at  the  corners  of  the  mouth,  is  not  for  a  mo- 
ment to  be  compared  with  that  which  is  evident  enough  in  both  of  these 
affections.  It  is  a  symptom  of  short  duration,  and  seldom  lasts  longer 
than  twelve  hours.  The  stories  that  are  told  of  the  mad  dog  covered  with 
froth,  are  altogether  fabulous.  The  dog  recovering  from,  or  attacked  by  a 
fit,  may  be  seen  in  this  state ;  but  not  the  rabid  dog.  Fits  are  often  mis- 
taken for  rabies,  and  hence  the  delusion. 

The  increased  secretion  of  saliva  soon  passes  away.  It  lessens  in 
quantity ;  it  becomes  thicker,  viscid,  adhesive,  and  glutinous.  It  clings 
to  the  corners  of  the  mouth,  and  probably  more  annoyingly  so  to  the 
membrane  of  the  fauces.  The  human  being  is  sadly  distressed  by  it,  he 


136  RABIES. 

forces  it  out  with  the  greatest  violence,  or  utters  the  falsely  supposed 
bark  of  a  dog,  in  his  attempts  to  force  it  from  his  mouth.  This  symp- 
tom occurs  in  the  human  being,  when  the  disease  is  fully  established, 
or  at  a  late  period  of  it.  The  dog  furiously  attempts  to  detach  it  with 
his  paws. 

It  is  an  early  symptom  in  the  dog,  and  it  can  scarcely  be  mistaken  in 
him.  When  he  is  fighting  with  his  paws  at  the  corners  of  his  mouth,  let 
no  one  suppose  that  a  bone  is  sticking  between  the  poor  fellow's  teeth  ;  nor 
should  any  useless  and  dangerous  effort  be  made  to  relieve  him.  If  all  this 
uneasiness  arose  from  a  bone  in  the  mouth,  the  mouth  would  continue  per- 
manently open  instead  of  closing  when  the  animal  for  a  moment  disconti- 
nues his  efforts.  If  after  a  while  he  loses  his  balance  and  tumbles  over, 
there  can  be  no  longer  any  mistake.  It  is  the  saliva  becoming  more  and 
more  glutinous,  irritating  the  fauces  and  threatening  suffocation. 

To  this  naturally  and  rapidly  succeeds  an  insatiable  thirst.  The  dog 
that  still  has  full  power  over  the  muscles  of  his  jaws  continues  to  lap.  He 
knows  not  when  to  cease,  while  the  poor  fellow  labouring  under  the  dumb 
madness,  presently  to  be  described,  and  whose  jaw  and  tongue  are.  para- 
lysed, plunges  his  muzzle  into  the  water-dish  to  his  very  eyes,  in  order 
that  he  may  get  one  drop  of  water  into  the  back  part  of  his  mouth  to 
moisten  and  to  cool  his  dry  and  parched  fauces.  Hence,  instead  of  this 
disease  being  always  characterised  by  the  dread  of  water  in  the  dog,  it  is 
marked  by  a  thirst  often  perfectly  unquenchable.  Twenty  years  ago,  this 
assertion  would  have  been  peremptorily  denied.  Even  at  the  present  day 
we  occasionally  meet  with  those  who  ought  to  know  better,  and  who  will 
not  believe  that  the  dog  which  fairly,  or  perhaps  eagerly,  drinks,  can  be 
rabid. 

January  22nd,  1815. — A  Newfoundland  dog  belonging  to  a  gentleman 
in  Piccadilly  was  supposed  to  have  swallowed  a  penny-piece,  on  the 
20th.  On  the  evening  of  that  day,  he  was  dull,  refused  his  food,  and 
would  not  follow  his  master.  2\st.  He  became  restless  and  panting, 
and  continually  shifting  his  position.  He  would  not  eat  nor  would  he 
drink  water,  but  followed  his  mistress  into  her  bed-room  which  he  had 
never  done  before,  and  eagerly  lapped  the  urine  from  the  chamber-pot. 
He  was  afterwards  seen  lapping  his  own  urine.  His  restlessness  and  pant- 
ing increased.  He  would  neither  eat  nor  drink,  and  made  two  or  three 
attempts  to  vomit.  22nd.  He  was  brought  to  me  this  evening.  His  eyes 
were  wild,  the  conjunctiva  considerably  inflamed,  and  he  panted  quickly 
and  violently.  There  was  a  considerable  flow  of  saliva  from  the  corners 
of  his  mouth.  He  was  extremely  restless  and  did  not  remain  in  one  posi- 
tion half  a  minute.  There  was  an  occasional  convulsive  nodding  motion 
of  the  head.  The  eyes  were  wandering,  and  evidently  following  some 
imaginary  object ;  but  he  was  quickly  recalled  from  his  delirium,  by  my 
voice  or  that  of  his  master.  In  a  few  moments,  however,  he  was  wander- 
ing again.  He  had  previously  been  under  my  care,  and  immediately  re- 
cognised me  and  offered  me  his  paw.  His  bark  was  changed  and  had  a 
slight  mixture  of  the  howl,  and  there  was  a  husky  choking  noise  in  the 
throat. 

I  immediately  declared  that  he  was  rabid,  and  with  some  reluctance  on 
the  part  of  his  master,  he  was  left  with  me.  23rd,  8  A.M.  The  breathing 
was  less  quick  and  laborious.  The  spasm  of  the  head  was  no  longer 
visible.  The  flow  of  saliva  had  stopped  and  there  was  less  delirium.  The 


RABIES.  137 

jaw  began  to  be  dependent ;  the  rattling,  choking  noise  in  his  throat  louder. 
He  carried  straw  about  in  his  mouth.  He  picked  up  some  pieces  of  old 
leather  that  lay  within  his  reach  and  carefully  concealed  them  under  his 
bed.  Two  minutes  afterwards  he  would  take  them  out  again,  and  look 
at  them,  and  once  more  hide  them.  He  frequently  voided  his  urine  in 
small  quantities,  but  no  longer  lapped  it.  A  little  dog  was  lowered  into 
the  den,  but  he  took  no  notice  of  it.  10  P.M.  Every  symptom  of  fever 
returned  with  increased  violence.  He  panted  very  much,  and  did  not 
remain  in  the  same  posture  two  seconds.  He  was  continually  running  to 
the  end  of  his  chain  and  attempting  to  bite.  He  was  eagerly  and  wildly 
watching  some  imaginary  object.  His  voice  was  hoarser — more  of  the 
howl  mixing  with  it.  The  lips  were  distorted,  and  the  tongue  very  black. 
He  was  evidently  getting  weaker.  After  two  or  three  attempts  to  escape, 
he  would  sit  down  for  a  second,  and  then  rise  and  plunge  to  the  end  of 
his  chain.  He  drank  frequently,  yet  but  little  at  a  time,  and  that  without 
difficulty  or  spasm.  12  P.M.  The  thirst  strangely  increased.  He  had 
drunk  or  spilled  full  three  quarts  of  water.  There  was  a  peculiar  eager- 
ness in  his  manner.  He  plunged  his  nose  to  the  very  bottom  of  his  pan, 
and  then  snapped  at  the  bubbles  which  he  raised.  No  spasm  followed 
the  drinking.  He  took  two  or  three  pieces  from  my  hand,  but  immediately 
dropped  them  from  want  of  power  to  hold  them.  Yet  he  was  able  for  a 
moment  suddenly  to  close  his  jaws.  When  not  drinking  he  was  barking 
with  a  harsh  sound,  and  frequently  started  suddenly,  watching,  and  catch- 
ing at  some  imaginary  object.  24th,  A.M.  He  was  more  furious,  yet  weaker. 
The  thirst  was  insatiable.  He  was  otherwise  diligently  employed  in  shat- 
tering and  tearing  everything  within  his  reach.  He  died  about  three, 
o'clock. 

It  is  impossible  to  say  what  was  the  origin  of  this  disease  in  him.  It  is 
not  connected  with  any  degree  or  variation  of  temperature,  or  any  parti- 
cular state  of  the  atmosphere.  It  is  certainly  more  frequent  in  the  summer 
or  the  beginning  of  autumn  than  in  the  winter  or  spring,  because  it  is  a 
highly  nervous  and  febrile  disease,  and  the  degree  of  fever,  and  irrita- 
bility, and  ferocity,  and  consequent  mischief  are  augmented  by  increase  of 
temperature.  In  the  great  majority  of  cases  the  inoculation  can  be  dis- 
tinctly proved.  In  very  few  can  the  possibility  be  denied.  The  injury  is 
inflicted  in  an  instant.  There  is  no  contest,  and  before  the  injured  party 
can  prepare  to  retaliate,  the  rabid  dog  is  far  away. 

It  can  easily  be  believed  that  when  a  favourite  dog  has,  but  for  a  mo- 
ment, lagged  behind,  he  may  be  bitten  without  the  owner's  knowledge 
or  suspicion.  A  spaniel  belonging  to  a  lady  became  rabid.  The  dog  was 
her  companion  in  her  grounds  at  her  country  residence,  and  it  was  rarely 
out  of  her  sight  except  for  a  few  minutes  in  the  morning  when  the  servant 
took  it  out.  She  was  not  conscious  of  its  having  been  bitten,  and  the  ser- 
vant stoutly  denied  it.  The  animal  died.  A  few  weeks  afterwards  the 
footman  was  taken  ill.  He  was  hydrophobous.  In  one  of  his  intervals  of 
comparative  quietude  he  confessed  that,  one  morning,  his  charge  had  been 
attacked  and  rolled  over  by  another  dog  ;  that  there  was  no  appearance  of 
its  having  been  bitten,  but  that  it  had  been  made  sadly  dirty,  and  he  had 
washed  it  before  he  suffered  it  again  to  go  into  the  drawing-room.  The 
dog  that  attacked  it  must  have  been  rabid,  and  some  of  his  saliva  must 
have  remained  about  the  coat  of  the  spaniel,  by  which  the  servant  was 
fatally  inoculated. 


138  RABIES. 

Another  case  of  this  fearful  disease  must  not  be  passed  over.  A  dog 
that  had  been  docile  and  attached  to  his  master  and  mistress,  was  missing 
one  morning,  and  came  home  in  the  evening  almost  covered  with  dirt. 
He  slunk  to  his  basket,  and  would  pay  no  attention  to  any  one.  His 
owners  thought  it  rather  strange,  and  I  was  sent  for  in  the  morning.  He 
was  lying  on  the  lap  of  his  mistress,  but  was  frequently  shifting  his  posture, 
and  every  now  and  then  he  started  as  if  he  heard  some  strange  sound.  I 
immediately  told  them  what  was  the  matter,  and  besought  them  to  place 
him  in  another  and  secure  room.  He  had  been  licking  both  their  hands. 
I  was  compelled  to  tell  them  at  once  what  was  the  nature  of  the  case,  and 
besought  them  to  send  at  once  for  their  surgeon.  They  were  perfectly 
angry  at  my  nonsense  as  they  called  it,  and  I  took  my  leave,  but  went  im- 
mediately to  their  medical  man,  and  told  him  what  was  the  real  state  of 
the  case.  He  called  as  it  were  accidentally  a  little  while  afterwards,  and 
I  was  not  far  behind  him.  The  surgeon  did  his  duty  and  they  escaped. 

In  May,  1820,  I  attended  on  a  bitch  at  Pimlico.  She  had  snapped  at 
the  owner,  bitten  the  man-servant  and  several  dogs,  was  eagerly  watch- 
ing imaginary  objects,  and  had  the  peculiar  rabid  howl.  I  offered  her 
water.  She  started  back  with  a  strange  expression  of  horror  and  fell  into 
violent  convulsions  that  lasted  about  a  minute.  This  was  repeated  a  little 
while  afterwards,  and  with  the  same  result.  She  was  destroyed. 

The  horrible  spasms  of  the  human  being  at  the  sight  of,  or  the  attempt  to 
swallow,  fluids  occur  sufficiently  often  to  prove  the  identity  of  the  disease 
in  the  biped  and  the  quadruped  ;  but  not  in  one  in  fifty  cases  is  there  in  the 
dog  the  slightest  reluctance  to  liquids,  or  difficulty  in  swallowing  them. 

In  almost  every  case  in  which  the  dog  utters  any  sound  during  the  dis- 
ease, there  is  a  manifest  change  of  voice.  In  the  dog  labouring  under 
ferocious  madness  it  is  perfectly  characteristic.  There  is  no  other  sound 
that  it  resembles.  The  animal  is  generally  standing,  or  occasionally 
sitting,  when  the  singular  sound  is  heard.  The  muzzle  is  always  elevated. 
The  commencement  is  that  of  a  perfect  bark  ending  abruptly  and  very 
singularly,  in  a  howl  a  fifth,  sixth,  or  eighth  higher  than  at  the  com- 
mencement. Dogs  are  often  enough  heard  howling,  but  in  this  case  it  is 
the  perfect  bark  and  the  perfect  howl  rapidly  succeeding  to  the  bark. 

Every  sound  uttered  by  the  rabid  dog  is  more  or  less  changed.  The 
huntsman  who  knows  the  voice  of  every  dog  in  his  pack,  occasionally 
hears  a  strange  challenge.  He  immediately  finds  out  that  dog,  and  puts 
him  as  quickly  as  possible  under  confinement.  Two  or  three  days  may  pass 
over,  and  there  is  not  another  suspicious  circumstance  about  the  animal ; 
still  he  keeps  him  under  quarantine,  for  long  experience  has  taught  him 
to  listen  to  that  warning.  At  length  the  disease  is  manifest  in  its  most 
fearful  form. 

There  is  another  partial  change  of  voice  to  which  the  ear  of  the  practi- 
tioner will  by  degrees  become  habituated,  and  which  will  indicate  a  change 
in  the  state  of  the  animal  quite  as  dangerous  as  the  dismal  howl ;  I  mean 
when  there  is  a  hoarse  inward  bark  with  a  slight  but  characteristic  eleva- 
tion of  the  tone.  In  other  cases,  after  two  or  three  distinct  barks  will 
come  the  peculiar  one  mingled  with  the  howl.  Both  of  them  will  termi- 
nate fatally,  and  in  both  of  them  the  rabid  howl  cannot  possibly  be  mistaken. 

There*  is  a  singular  brightness  in  the  eye  of  the  rabid  dog,  but  it  does 
not  last  more  than  two  or  three  days.  It  then  becomes  dull  and  wasted  ; 
a  cloudiness  steals  over  the  conjunctiva,  which  changes  to  a  yellow  tinge, 


RABIES.  139 

and  then  to  a  dark  green,  indicative  of  ulceration  deeply  seated  within 
the  eye.  In  eight  and  forty  hours  from  the  first  clouding  of  the  eye,  it 
becomes  one  disorganised  mass. 

There  is  in  the  rabid  dog  a  strange  embarrassment  of  general  sensibility 
— a  seemingly  total  loss  of  feeling. 

Absence  of  pain  in  the  bitten  part  is  an  almost  invariable  accompani- 
ment of  rabies.  I  have  known  a  dog  set  to  work,  and  gnaw  and  tear  the 
flesh  completely  away  from  his  legs  and  feet.  At  other  times  the  penis 
is  perfectly  demolished  from  the  very  base.  Ellis  in  his  "  Shepherd's 
Sure  Guide,"  asserts,  that,  however  severely  a  mad  dog  is  beaten,  a  cry  is 
never  forced  from  him.  I  am  certain  of  the  truth  of  this,  for  I  have  again 
and  again  failed  in  extracting  that  cry.  Ellis  tells  that  at  the  kennel  at 
Goddesden,  some  of  the  grooms  heated  a  poker  red  hot,  and  holding  it 
near  the  mad  hound's  mouth,  he  most  greedily  seized  it,  and  kept  it  until 
the  mouth  was  most  dreadfully  burned. 

In  the  great  majority  of  cases  of  furious  madness,  and  in  almost  every 
case  of  dumb  madness,  there  is  evident  affection  of  the  lumbar  portion  of 
the  spinal  cord.  There  is  a  staggering  gait,  not  indicative  of  general 
weakness,  but  referable  to  the  hind  quarters  alone,  and  indicating  an  affec- 
tion of  the  lumbar  motor  nerve.  In  a  few  cases  it  approaches  more  to  a 
general  paralytic  affection. 

In  the  very  earliest  period  of  rabies,  the  person  accustomed  to  dogs  will 
detect  the  existence  of  the  disease. 

The  animal  follows  the  flight,  as  has  been  already  stated,  of  various 
imaginary  objects.  I  have  often  watched  the  changing  countenance  of  the 
rabid  dog  when  he  has  been  lost  to  every  surrounding  object.  I  have  seen 
the  brightening  countenance  and  the  wagging  tail  as  some  pleasing  vision 
has  passed  before  him ;  but,  oftener  has  the  countenance  indicated  the  min- 
gled dislike  and  fear  with  which  the  intruder  was  regarded.  As  soon  as 
the  phantom  came  within  the  proper  distance  he  darted  on  it  with  true 
rabid  violence. 

A  spaniel,  seemingly  at  play,  snapped,  in  the  morning,  at  the  feet  of 
several  persons.  In  the  evening  he  bit  his  master,  his  master's  friend, 
and  another  dog.  The  old  habits  of  obedience  and  affection  then  re- 
turned. His  master,  most  strangely,  did  not  suspect  the  truth,  and  brought 
the  animal  to  me  to  be  examined.  The  animal  was,  as  I  had  often  seen 
him,  perfectly  docile  and  eager  to  be  caressed.  At  my  suggestion,  or 
rather  entreaty,  he  was  left  with  me.  On  the  following  morning  the 
disease  was  plain  enough,  and  on  the  following  day  he  died.  A  post- 
mortem examination  took  place,  and  proved  that  he  was  unequivocally 
rabid. 

A  lady  would  nurse  her  dog,  after  I  had  declared  it  to  be  rabid,  and  when 
he  was  dangerous  to  every  one  but  herself,  and  even  to  her  from  the  saliva 
which  he  plentifully  scattered  about.  At  length  he  darted  at  every  one 
that  entered  the  room,  until  a  footman  keeping  the  animal  at  bay  with  the 
poker,  the  husband  of  the  lady  dragged  her  from  the  room.  The  noise  that 
the  dog  made  was  then  terrific,  and  he  almost  gnawed  his  way  through  the 
door.  At  midnight  his  violence  nearly  ceased,  and  the  door  was  partially 
opened.  He  was  staggering  and  falling  about,  with  every  limb  violently 
agitated.  At  the  entreaty  of  the  lady,  a  servant  ventured  in  to  make  a 
kind  of  bed  for  him.  The  dog  suddenly  darted  at  him,  and  dropped  and 
died. 


140  RABIES. 

A  terrier,  ten  years  old,  had  been  ill,  and  refused  all  food  for  three  days. 
On  the  fourth  day  he  bit  a  cat  of  which  he  had  been  unusually  fond,  and 
he  likewise  bit  three  dogs.  I  was  requested  to  see  him.  I  found  him 
loose  in  the  kitchen,  and  at  first  refused  to  go  in,  but,  after  observing  him 
for  a  minute  or  two,  I  thought  that  I  might  venture.  He  had  a  peculiarly 
wild  and  eager  look,  and  turned  sharply  round  at  the  least  noise.  He  often 
watched  the  flight  of  some  imaginary  object,  and  pursued  with  the  utmost 
fury  every  fly  that  he  saw.  He  searchingly  sniffed  about  the  room,  and 
examined  my  legs  with  an  eagerness  that  made  me  absolutely  tremble. 
His  quarrel  with  the  cat  had  been  made  up,  and  when  he  was  not  other- 
wise employed  he  was  eagerly  licking  her  and  her  kittens.  In  the  excess 
or  derangement  of  his  fondness,  he  fairly  rolled  them  from  one  end  of  the 
kitchen  to  another.  With  difficulty  I  induced  his  master  to  permit  me  to 
destroy  him. 

It  is  not  every  dog,  that  in  the  most  aggravated  state  of  the  disease 
shows  a  disposition  to  bite.  The  finest  Newfoundland  dog  that  I  ever  saw 
became  rabid.  He  had  been  bitten  by  a  cur,  and  was  supposed  to  have 
been  thoroughly  examined  in  the  country.  No  wound,  however,  was  found: 
the  circumstance  was  almost  forgotten,  and  he  came  up  to  the  metropolis 
with  his  master.  He  became  dull,  disinclined  to  play,  and  refused  all  food. 
He  was  continually  watching  imaginary  objects,  but  he  did  not  snap  at 
them.  There  was  no  howl,  nor  any  disposition  to  bite.  He  offered  him- 
self to  be  caressed,  and  he  was  not  satisfied  except  he  was  shaken  by  the 
paw.  On  the  second  day  I  saw  him.  He  watched  every  passing  object 
with  peculiar  anxiety,  and  followed  with  deep  attention  the  motions  of  a 
horse,  his  old  acquaintance ;  but  he  made  no  effort  to  escape,  nor  evinced 
any  disposition  to  do  mischief.  I  went  to  him,  and  patted  and  coaxed 
him,  and  he  told  me  as  plainly  as  looks  and  actions,  and  a  somewhat 
deepened  whine  could  express  it,  how  much  he  was  gratified.  I  saw  him 
on  the  third  day.  He  was  evidently  dying.  He  could  not  crawl  even 
to  the  door  of  his  temporary  kennel ;  but  he  pushed  forward  his  paw  a 
little  way,  and,  as  I  shook  it,  I  felt  the  tetanic  muscular  action  which 
accompanies  the  departure  of  life. 

On  the  other  hand  there  are  rabid  dogs  whose  ferocity  knows  no  bounds. 
If  they  are  threatened  with  a  stick,  they  fly  at,  and  seize  it,  and  furiously 
shake  it.  They  are  incessantly  employed  in  darting  to  the  end  of  their 
chain,  and  attempting  to  crush  it  with  their  teeth,  and  tearing  to  pieces 
their  kennel,  or  the  wood  work  that  is  within  their  reach.  They  are  re- 
gardless of  pain.  The  canine  teeth,  the  incisor  teeth  are  torn  away  ;  yet, 
unwearied  and  insensible  to  suffering,  they  continue  their  efforts  to  escape. 
A  dog  was  chained  near  a  kitchen  fire.  He  was  incessant  in  his  endeavours 
to  escape,  and,  when  he  found  that  he  could  not  effect  it,  he  seized,  in  his 
impotent  rage,  the  burning  coals  as  they  fell,  arid  crushed  them  with  his 
teeth. 

If  by  chance  a  dog  in  this  state  effects  his  escape,  he  wanders  over  the 
country  bent  on  destruction.  He  attacks  both  the  quadruped  and  the 
biped.  He  seeks  the  village  street  or  the  more  crowded  one  of  the  town, 
and  he  suffers  no  dog  to  escape  him.  The  horse  is  his  frequent  prey,  and 
the  human  being  is  not  always  safe  from  his  attack.  A  rabid  dog  running 
down  Park-lane,  in  1825,  bit  no  fewer  than  five  horses,  and  fully  as  many 
dogs.  He  was  seen  to  steal  treacherously  upon  some  of  his  victims,  and  in- 
flict the  fatal  wound.  Sometimes  he  seeks  the  more  distant  pasturage.  He 


RABIES.  1 41 

gets  among  the  sheep,  and  more  than  forty  have  been  fatally  inoculated  in 
one  night.  A  rabid  dog  attacked  a  herd  of  cows,  and  five  and  twenty  of 
them  fell  victims.  In  July,  1813,  a  mad  dog  broke  into  the  menagerie  of 
the  Duchess  of  York,  at  Oatlands,  and  although  the  palisades  that  divided 
the  different  compartments  of  the  menagerie  were  full  six  feet  in  height, 
and  difficult,  or  apparently  almost  impossible  to  climb,  he  was  found  asleep 
in  one  of  them,  and  it  was  clearly  ascertained  that  he  had  bitten  at  least 
ten  of  the  dogs. 

At  length  the  rabid  dog  becomes  completely  exhausted,  and  slowly  reels 
along  the  road  with  his  tail  depressed,  seemingly  half  unconscious  of  sur- 
rounding objects.  His  open  mouth,  and  protruded  and  blackened  tongue, 
and  rolling  gait  sufficiently  characterise  him.  He  creeps  into  some  sheltered 
place  and  then  he  sleeps  twelve  hours  or  more.  It  is  dangerous  to  dis- 
turb his  slumbers,  for  his  desire  to  do  mischief  immediately  returns,  and 
the  slightest  touch,  or  attempt  to  caress  him,  is  repaid  by  a  fatal  wound. 
This  should  be  a  caution  never  to  meddle  with  a  sleeping  dog  in  a  way-side 
house,  and,  indeed,  never  to  disturb  him  anywhere. 

In  an  early  period  of  the  disease  in  some  dogs,  and  in  others  when  the 
strength  of  the  animal  is  nearly  worn  away,  a  peculiar  paralysis  of  the 
muscles  of  the  tongue  and  jaws  is  seen.  The  mouth  is  partially  open,  and 
the  tongue  protruding.  In  some  cases  the  dog  is  able  to  close  his  mouth 
by  a  sudden  and  violent  effort,  and  is  as  ferocious  and  as  dangerous  as  one 
the  muscles  of  whose  face  are  unaffected.  At  other  times  the  palsy  is 
complete,  and  the  animal  is  unable  to  close  his  mouth  or  retract  his  tongue. 
These  latter  cases,  however,  are  rare. 

A  dog  must  not  be  immediately  condemned  because  he  has  this  open 
mouth  and  fixed  jaw.  Bones  constitute  a  frequent  and  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  the  food  of  dogs.  %In  the  eagerness  with  which  these  bones  are 
crushed,  spicula  or  large  pieces  of  them  become  wedged  between  the 
molar  teeth,  and  form  an  insuperable  obstacle  to  the  closing  of  the  teeth. 
The  tongue  partially  protrudes.  There  is  a  constant  discharge  of  saliva 
from  the  mouth,  far  greater  than  when  the  true  paralysis  exists.  The  dog 
is  continually  fighting  at  the  corners  of  his  mouth,  and  the  countenance  is 
expressive  of  intense  anxiety,  although  not  of  the  same  irritable  character 
as  in  rabies. 

I  was  once  requested  to  meet  a  medical  gentleman  in  consultation  re- 
specting a  supposed  case  of  rabies.  There  was  protrusion  and  discolora- 
tion of  the  tongue,  and  fighting  at  the  corners  of  the  mouth,  and  intense 
anxiety  of  countenance.  He  had  been  in  this  state  for  four-and-twenty 
hours.  This  was  a  case  in  which  I  should  possibly  have  been  deceived  had 
it  been  the  first  dog  that  I  had  seen  with  dumb  madness.  After  having 
tested  a  little  the  ferocity  or  manageableness  of  the  animal,  I  passed  my 
hand  along  the  outside  of  the  jaws,  and  felt  a  bone  wedged  between  two  of 
the  grinders.  The  forceps  soon  set  .all  right  with  him. 

It  is  time  to  inquire  more  strictly  into  the  post-mortem  appearances  of 
rabies  in  the  dog. 

In  dumb  madness  the  unfailing  accompaniment  is,  to  a  greater  or  less 
degree,  paralysis  of  the  muscles  of  the  lower  jaw,  and  the  tongue  is  disco- 
loured and  swollen,  and  hanging  from  the  mouth  ;  more  blood  than  usual 
also  is  deposited  in  the  anterior  and  inferior  portion  of  it.  Its  colour 
varies  from  a  dark  red  to  a  dingy  purple,  or  almost  black.  In  ferocious 
madness  it  is  usually  torn  and  bruised,  or  it  is  discoloured  by  the  dirt  and 


142  RABIES. 

filth  with  which  it  has  been  brought  into  contact,  and,  not  unfrequently,  its 
anterior  portion  is  coated  with  some  disgusting  matter.  The  papillae,  or 
small  projections  on  the  back  of  the  tongue,  are, elongated  and  widened, 
and  their  mucous  covering  evidently  reddened.  The  orifices  of  the  glands 
of  the  tongue  are  frequently  enlarged,  particularly  as  they  run  their  course 
along  the  frsenum  of  the  tongue. 

The  fauces,  situated  at  the  posterior  part  of  the  mouth,  generally  exhibit 
traces  of  inflammation.  They  appear  in  the  majority  of  cases  of  ferocious 
madness,  and  they  are  never  deficient  after  dumb  madness.  They  are  usu- 
ally most  intense  either  towards  the  palatine  arch  or  the  larynx.  Some- 
times an  inflammatory  character  is  diffused  through  its  whole  extent,  but 
occasionally  it  is  more  or  less  intense  towards  one  or  both  of  the  termina- 
tions of  the  fauces,  while  the  intermediate  portion  retains  nearly  its 
healthy  hue. 

There  is  one  circumstance  of  not  unfrequent  occurrence,  which  will  at 
once  decide  the  case — the  presence  of  indigestible  matter,  probably  small 
in  quantity,  in  the  back  part  of  the  mouth.  This  speaks  volumes  as  to  the 
depraved  appetite  of  the  patient,  and  the  loss  of  power  in  the  muscles  of 
the  pharynx. 

Little  will  depend  on  the  tonsils  of  the  throat.  They  occasionally  en- 
large to  more  than  double  their  usual  size ;  but  this  is  more  in  quiet  than 
in  ferocious  madness.  The  insatiable  thirst  of  the  rabid  dog  is  perhaps 
connected  with  this  condition  of  them. 

The  epiglottis  should  be  very  carefully  observed.  It  is  more  or  less 
injected  in  every  case  of  rabies.  Numerous  vessels  increase  in  size  and 
multiply  round  its  edge,  and  there  is  considerable  injection  and  thick- 
ening. 

Inflammation  of  the  edges  of  the  glottis,  and  particularly  of  the  mem- 
brane which  covers  its  margin,  is  often  seen,  and  accounts  for  the  harsh 
guttural  breathing  which  frequently  accompanies  dumb  madness.  The 
inflammatory  blush  of  the  larynx,  though  often  existing  in  a  very  slight 
degree,  deserves  considerable  attention. 

The  appearances  in  the  trachea  are  very  uncertain.  There  is  occa- 
sionally the  greatest  intensity  of  inflammation  through  the  whole  of  it ; 
at  other  times  there  is  not  the  slightest  appearance  of  it.  There  is  the 
same  uncertainty  with  regard  to  the  bronchial  tubes  and  the  lungs ;  but 
there  is  no  characteristic  symptom  or  lesion  in  the  lungs. 

Great  stress  has  been  laid  on  the  appearance  of  the  heart ;  but,  generally 
speaking,  in  nine  cases  out  often,  the  heart  of  the  rabid  dog  will  exhibit 
no  other  symptoms  of  disease  than  an  increased  yet  variable  deepness  of 
colour  in  the  lining  membrane  of  the  ventricles. 

No  dependence  can  be  placed  on  any  of  the  appearances  of  the  oesopha- 
gus ;  and,  when  they  are  at  the  worst,  the  inflammation  occupies  only  a 
portion  of  that  tube. 

With  regard  to  the  interior  of  the  stomach,  if  the  dog  has  been  dead 
only  a  few  hours  the  true  inflammatory  blush  will  remain.  If  four-and- 
twenty  hours  have  elapsed,  the  bright  red  colour  will  have  changed  to  a 
darker  red,  or  a  violet  or  a  brownish  hue.  In  a  few  hours  after  this,  a 
process  of  corrosion  will  generally  commence,  and  the  mucous  membrane 
will  be  softened  and  rendered  thinner,  and,  to  a  certain  extent,  eaten 
through.  The  examiner,  however,  must  not  attribute  that  to  disease  which 
is  the  natural  process  of  the  cessation  of  life. 


RABIES.  143 

Much  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  appearance  of  the  stomach  and 
its  contents.  If  it  contains  a  strange  mingled  mass  of  hair,  and  hay,  and 
straw,  and  horse-dung,  and  earth,  or  portions  of  the  bed  on  which  the  dog 
had  lain,  we  should  seldom  err  if  we  affirmed  that  he  died  rabid  ;  for  it 
is  only  under  the  influence  of  the  depraved  appetite  of  rabies  that  such 
substances  are  devoured.  It  is  not  the  presence  of  every  kind  of  extra- 
neous substance  that  will  be  satisfactory  :  pieces  of  coal,  or  wood,  or  even 
the  filthiest  matter,  will  not  justify  us  in  pronouncing  the  animal  to  be 
rabid ;  it  is  that  peculiarly  mingled  mass  of  straw,  and  hair,  and  filth  of 
various  kinds,  that  must  indicate  the  existence  of  rabies. 

When  there  are  no  solid  indigesta,  but  a  fluid  composed  principally  of 
vitiated  bile  or  extra vasated  blood,  there  will  be  a  strong  indication  of  the 
presence  of  rabies.  When,  also,  there  are  in  the  duodenum  and  jejunum 
small  portions  of  indigesta,  the  detection  of  the  least  quantity  will  be  deci- 
sive. The  remainder  has  been  ejected  by  vomit ;  and  inquiry  should  be 
made  of  the  nature  of  the  matter  that  has  been  discharged. 

The  inflammation  of  rabies  is  of  a  peculiar  character  in  the  stomach.  It 
is  generally  confined  to  the  summits  of  the  folds  of  the  stomach,  or  it  is 
most  intense  there.  On  the  summits  of  the  rugae  there  are  effusions  of 
bloody  matter,  or  spots  of  ecchymosis,  presenting  an  appearance  almost 
like  crushed  black  currants.  There  may  be  only  a  fewof  them  ;  but  they 
are  indications  of  the  evil  that  has  been  effected. 

From  appearances  that  present  themselves  in  the  intestines,  the  blad- 
der, the  blood-vessels,  or  the  brain,  no  conclusion  can  be  drawn ;  they  are. 
simply  indications  of  inflammation. 

We  now  rapidly,  and  for  a  little  while,  retrace  our  steps.  What  is  the 
cause  of  this  fatal  disease,  that  has  so  long  occupied  our  attention  ?  It  is 
the  saliva  of  a  rabid  animal  received  into  a  wound,  or  on  an  abraded  sur- 
face. In  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  swine,  and  the  human  being,  it  is  caused 
by  inoculation  alone  ;  but,  according  to  some  persons,  it  is  produced  spon- 
taneously in  other  animals. 

I  will  suppose  that  a  wound  by  a  rabid  dog  is  inflicted.  The  virus  is 
deposited  on  or  near  its  surface,  and  there  it  remains  for  a  certain  indefi- 
nite period  of  time.  The  wound  generally  heals  up  kindly  ;  in  fact,  it 
differs  in  no  respect  from  a  similar  wound  inflicted  by  the  teeth  of  an 
animal  in  perfect  health.  Weeks  and  months  in  some  cases  pass  on,  and 
there  is  nothing  to  indicate  danger,  until  a  degree  of  itching  in  the  cicatrix 
of  the  wound  is  felt.  From  its  long-continued  presence  as  a  foreign 
body,  it  may  have  rendered  the  tissue,  or  nervous  fibre  connected  with  it, 
irritable  and  susceptible  of  impression,  or  it  may  have  attracted  and  assi- 
milated to  itself  certain  elements,  and  rabies  is  produced. 

The  virus  does  not  appear  to  have  the  same  effect  on  every  animal.  Of 
four  dogs  bitten  by,  or  inoculated  from,  one  that  is  rabid,  three,  perhaps, 
would  display  every  symptom  of  the  disease.  Of  four  human  beings,  not 
more  than  one  would  become  rabid.  John  Hunter  used  to  say  not  more 
than  one  in  twenty ;  but  that  is  probably  erroneous.  Cattle  appear  to 
have  a  greater  chance  of  escape,  and  sheep  a  still  greater  chance. 

The  time  of  incubation  is  different  in  different  animals.  With  regard 
to  the  human  being,  there  are  various  strange  and  contradictory  stories. 
Some  have  asserted  that  it  has  appeared  on  the  very  day  on  which  the  bite 
was  inflicted,  or  within  two  or  three  days  of  that  time.  Dr.  Bardsley, 
on  the  other  hand,  relates  a  case  in  which  twelve  years  elapsed  between 


144  RABIES. 

the  bite  and  the  disease.  If  the  virus  may  lurk  so  long  as  this  in  the  con- 
stitution, it  is  a  most  lamentable  affair.  According  to  one  account  more 
than  thirty  years  intervened.  The  usual  time  extends  from  three  weeks 
to  six  or  seven  months. 

In  the  dog  I  have  never  seen  a  case  in  which  plain  and  palpable  rabies 
occurred  in  less  than  fourteen  days  after  the  bite.  The  average  time  I 
should  calculate  at  five  or  six  weeks.  In  three  months  I  should  consider 
the  animal  as  tolerably  safe.  I  am,  however,  relating  my  own  experience, 
and  have  known  but  two  instances  in  which  the  period  much  exceeded 
three  months.  In  one  of  these  five  months  elapsed,  and  the  other  did  not 
become  affected  until  after  the  expiration  of  the  seventh  month. 

The  quality  and  the  quantity  of  the  virus  may  have  something  to  do 
with  this,  and  so  may  the  predisposition  in  the  bitten  animal  to  be  affected 
by  the  poison.  If  it  is  connected  with  oestrum,  the  bitch  will  probably 
become  a  disgusting,  as  well  as  dangerous  animal ;  if  with  parturition, 
there  is  a  strange  perversion  of  maternal  affection — she  is  incessantly  and 
violently  licking  her  young,  continually  shifting  them  from  place  to  place  ; 
and,  in  less  than  four-and-twenty  hours,  they  will  be  destroyed  by  the 
reckless  manner  in  which  they  are  treated.  In  both  cases  the  development 
of  the  disease  seems  to  wait  on  the  completion  of  her  time  of  pregnancy. 
It  appears  in  the  space  of  two  months  after  the  bite,  if  her  parturition  is 
near  at  hand,  or  it  is  delayed  for  double  that  time,  if  the  period  of  labour 
is  so  far  distant. 

The  duration  of  the  disease  is  different  in  different  animals.  In  man  it 
has  run  its  course  in  twenty-four  hours,  and  rarely  exceeds  seventy-two. 
In  the  horse  from  three  to  four  days  ;  in  the  sheep  and  ox  from  five  to 
seven  ;  and  in  the  dog  from  four  to  six. 

Of  the  real  nature  of  the  rabid  virus,  we  know  but  little.  It  has  never 
been  analysed,  and  it  would  be  a  difficult  process  to  analyse  it.  It  is  not 
diffused  by  the  air,  nor  communicated  by  the  breath,  nor  even  by  actual 
contact,  if  the  skin  is  sound.  It  must  be  received  into  a  wound.  It  must 
come  in  contact  with  some  tissue  or  nervous  fibre,  and  lie  dormant  there 
for  a  considerable,  but  uncertain  period.  The  absorbents  remove  every- 
thing around ;  whatever  else  is  useless,  or  would  be  injurious,  is  taken 
away,  but  this  strange  substance  is  unchanged.  It  does  not  enter  into  the 
circulation,  for  there  it  would  undergo  some  modification  and  change,  or 
would  be  rejected.  It  lies  for  a  time  absolutely  dormant,  and  far  longer 
than  any  other  known  poison;  but,  at  length,  the  tissue  on  which  it  has 
lain  begins  to  render  it  somewhat  sensible,  and  assimilates  to  itself  certain 
elements.  The  cicatrix  begins  to  be  painful,  and  inflammation  spreads 
around.  The  absorbents  are  called  into  more  powerful  action  ;  they  begin 
to  attack  the  virus  itself,  and  a  portion  of  it  is  taken  up,  and  carried  into 
the  circulation,  and  acquires  the  property  of  assimilating  other  secretions 
to  its  own  nature,  or  it  is  determined  to  one  of  the  secretions  only  ;  it 
alters  the  character  of  that  secretion,  envenoms  it,  and  gives  it  the  power 
of  propagating  the  disease. 

Something  like  this  is  the  history  of  many  animal  poisons.  In  variola  and 
the  vaccine  disease  the  poison  is  determined  to  the  skin,  in  glanders  to  the 
Schneiderian  membrane,  and  in  farcy  to  the  superficial  absorbents.  Each 
in  its  turn  becomes  the  depot  of  the  poison.  So  it  is  with  the  salivary  glands 
of  the  rabid  animal ;  in  them  it  is  formed,  or  to  them  it  is  determined,  and 
from  them,  and  them  alone,  it  is  communicated  to  other  animals. 


RABIES.  145 

Professor  Dick,  in  his  valuable  Manual  of  Veterinary  Science,  states 
some  peculiar  views,  and  those  highly  interesting,  respecting  the  disease 
of  rabies.  He  holds  it  to  be  essentially  an  inflammatory  affection,  attack- 
ing peculiarly  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  nose,  and  extending  thence 
through  the  cribriform  plate  of  the  ethmoid  bones  to  the  interior  part  of 
the  brain,  and  so  giving  rise  to  a  derangement  of  the  nervous  system  as  a 
necessary  consequence.  This  train  of  symptoms  constitutes  mainly,  if  not 
wholly,  the  essence  of  an  occasional  epidemic  not  unlike  some  forms  of 
influenza  or  epizootic  disease,  and  the  bite  of  a  rabid  animal  is  not  always, 
to  an  animal  so  bitten,  the  exciting  cause  of  the  disease,  but  merely  an 
accidental  concomitant  in  the  prevailing  disorder.  Also  the  disease  hydro- 
phobia, produced  in  man,  is  not  always  the  result  of  any  poison  introduced 
into  his  system,  but  merely  the  melancholy,  and  often  fatal  result  of  panic 
fear,  and  of  the  disordered  state  of  the  imagination.  Those  who  are  ac- 
quainted with  the  effects  of  sympathy,  and  imitation,  and  panic,  in  the 
production  of  nervous  disorders,  will  readily  apprehend  the  meaning  of  the 
Professor. 

Some  of  these  diseases  speedily  run  their  course  and  exhaust  themselves. 
Cowpox  and  farcy,  in  many  instances,  have  this  character.  Perhaps,  to 
a  certain  degree,  this  may  be  affirmed  of  all  of  them.  I  have  seen  cases, 
which  I  could  not  mistake,  in  which  the  symptoms  of  rabies  were  one  after 
another  developed.  The  dog  was  plainly  and  undeniably  rabid,  and  I  had 
given  him  up  as  lost ;  but,  after  a  certain  period,  the  symptoms  began  to 
be  less  distinct ;  they  gradually  disappeared,  and  the  animal  returned  to 
perfect  health.  This  may  have  formed  one  ground  of  belief  in  the  power 
of  certain  medicines,  and  most  assuredly  it  gives  encouragement  to  per- 
severance in  the  use  of  remedial  measures. 

It  has  then  been  proved,  and  I  hope  demonstratively,  that  rabies  is  pro- 
pagated by  inoculation.  It  has  also  been  established  that  although  every 
animal  labouring  under  this  disease  is  capable  of  communicating  it,  yet, 
with  very  few  exceptions,  it  can  be  traced  to  the  bite  of  the  dog.  It  has 
still  further  been  shown  that  the  malady  generally  appears  at  some  period 
between  the  third  and  seventh  month  from  the  time  of  inoculation.  At 
the  expiration  of  the  eighth  month,  the  animal  may  be  considered  to  be 
safe ;  for  there  is  only  one  acknowledged  case  on  record,  in  which  the 
disease  appeared  in  the  dog  after  the  seventh  month  from  the  bite  had 


Then  it  would  appear  that  if  a  species  of  quarantine  could  be  established, 
and  every  dog  confined  separately  for  eight  months,  the  disease  would  be 
annihilated  in  our  country,  or  could  only  reappear  in  consequence  of  the 
importation  of  some  infected  animal.  Such  a  course  of  proceeding,  how- 
ever, could  never  be  enforced  either  in  the  sporting- world  or  among  the 
peasantry.  Other  measures,  however,  might  be  resorted  to  in  order  to 
lessen  the  devastations  of  this  malady  ;  and  that  which  first  presents  itself 
to  the  mind  as  a  powerful  cause  of  rabies  is  the  number  of  useless  and 
dangerous  dogs  that  are  kept  in  the  country  for  the  most  nefarious  and, 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  considerable  towns,  the  most  brutal  purposes ; 
without  the  slightest  hesitation,  I  will  affirm  that  rabies  is  propagated 
nineteen  times  out  of  twenty,  by  the  cur  and  the  lurcher  in  the  country, 
and  the  fighting-dog  in  towns. 

A  tax  should  be  laid  on  every  useless  dog,  and  doubly  or  trebly  heavier 
than  on  the  sporting-dog.  No  dog  except  the  shepherd's  should  be  exempt 


146  RABIES. 

from  this  tax,  unless,  perhaps,  it  is  the  truck-dog,  and  his  owner  should 
be  compelled  to  take  out  a  licence ;  to  have  his  name  in  large  letters  on 
his  cart ;  and  he  should  be  heavily  fined  if  the  animal  is  found  loose  in 
the  streets,  or  if  he  is  used  for  fighting. 

The  disease  is  rarely  propagated  by  petted  and  house-dogs.  They  are 
little  exposed  to  the  danger  of  inoculation  ;  yet,  we  pity,  or  almost  detest, 
the  folly  of  those  by  whom  their  favourites  are  indulged,  and  spoiled  even 
more  than  their  children. 

We  will  now  suppose  that  a  person  has  had  the  misfortune  to  be  bitten 
by  a  rabid  dog :  what  course  is  he  to  pursue  ?  What  preventive  means 
are  to  be  adopted  ?  Some  persons,  and  of  no  mean  standing  in  the  medical 
world,  have  recommended  a  ligature.  The  reply  would  be,  that  this  liga- 
ture must  be  worn  during  a  very  inconvenient  and  dangerous  period  of 
time.  The  virus  lies  in  the  wound  inert  during  many  successive  weeks 
and  months. 

Dr.  Haygarth  first  suggested  that  a  long  continued  stream  of  warm 
water  should  be  poured  upon  the  wound  from  the  mouth  of  a  kettle.  He 
says  that  the  poison  exists  in  a  fluid  form,  and  therefore  we  should  suppose 
that  water  would  be  its  natural  solvent.  Dr.  Massey  adds  to  this,  that  if 
the  wound  is  small,  it  should  be  dilated,  in  order  that  the  stream  may 
descend  on  the  part  on  which  the  poison  is  deposited.  We  are  far,  how- 
ever, from  being  certain  that  this  falling  of  water  on  the  part,  may  not  by 
possibility  force  a  portion  of  the  virus  farther  into  the  texture,  or  cause  it 
to  be  entangled  with  other  parts  of  the  wound.a 

There  is  a  similar  or  stronger  objection  to  the  cupping-glass  of  Dr. 
Barry.  The  virus,  forced  from  the  texture  with  which  it  lies  in  contact 
by  the  rush  of  blood  from  the  substance  beneath,  is  too  likely  to  inoculate, 
or  become  entangled  with,  other  parts  of  the  wound. 

There  is  great  objection  to  suction  of  the  wound  ;  for,  in  addition  to  this 
possible  entanglement,  the  lips,  or  the  mouth,  may  have  been  abraded,  and 
thus  the  danger  considerably  aggravated.  There  also  remains  the  un- 
decided question  as  to  the  absorption  of  the  virus  through  the  medium  of 
a  mucous  surface. 

Excision  of  the  part  is  the  mode  of  prevention  usually  adopted  by  the 
human  surgeon,  and  to  a  certain  extent  it  is  a  judicious  practice.  If  the 
virus  is  not  received  into  the  circulation,  but  lies  dormant  in  the  wound 
for  a  considerable  time,  the  disease  cannot  supervene  if  the  inoculated 
part  is  destroyed. 

This  operation,  however,  demands  greater  skill  and  tact  than  is  gene- 
rally supposed.  It  requires  a  determination  fully  to  accomplish  the  desired 
object ;  for  every  portion  of  the  wound  with  which  the  tooth  could  possibly 
have  come  into  contact,  must  be  removed.  This  is  often  exceedingly  diffi- 
cult to  accomplish  on  account  of  the  situation  and  direction  of  the  wound. 
The  knife  must  not  enter  the  wound,  or  it  will  be  likely  to  be  itself  em- 
poisoned, and  then  the  mischief  and  the  danger  will  be  increased  instead 
of  removed.  Dr.  Massey  was  convinced  of  the  impropriety  of  this  when 
he  advised  that,  "  should  the  knife  by  chance  enter  the  wound  that  had 
been  made  by  the  dog's  tooth,  the  operation  should  be  recommenced  with 
a  clean  knife,  otherwise  the  sound  parts  will  become  inoculated." 

*  The  physician  Apollonius,  having  other  dog  to  lick  the  wound,  "  ut  idem 
been  bitten  by  a  rabid  dog,  induced  an-  medicus  esset  qui  vulneris  auctor  fuit." 


RABIES.  147 

If  the  incision  is  made  freely  and  properly  round  the  wound,  and  does 
not  penetrate  into  it,  yet  the  blood  will  follow  the  knife,  and  a  portion  of 
it  will  enter  into  the  wound  caused  by  the  dog,  and  will  come  in  contact 
with  the  virus,  and  will  probably  be  contaminated,  and  will  then  overflow 
the  original  wound,  and  will  be  received  into  the  new  incision,  and  will 
carry  with  it  the  seeds  of  disease  and  death  :  therefore  it  is,  that  scarcely 
a  year  passes  without  some  lamentable  instances  of  the  failure  of  incisions. 
It  has  occurred  in  the  practice  of  the  most  eminent  surgeons,  and  seems 
scarcely  or  not  at  all  to  impeach  the  skill  of  the  operator. 

Aware  of  this,  there  are  very  few  human  practitioners  who  do  not  use 
the  caustic  after  the  knife.  Every  portion  of  the  new  wound  is  submitted 
to  its  influence.  They  do  not  consider  the  patient  to  be  safe  without  this 
second  operation.  But  has  the  question  never  occurred  to  them,  that  if 
the  caustic  is  necessary  to  give  security  to  the  operation  by  incision,  the 
knife  might  have  been  spared,  and  the  caustic  alone  used  ? 

The  veterinary  surgeon,  when  operating  on  the  horse,  or  cattle,  or  the 
dog,  frequently  has  recourse  to  the  actual  cautery.  I  could,  perhaps,  ex- 
cuse this  practice,  although  I  would  not  adopt  it,  in  superficial  wounds  ; 
but  I  do  not  know  the  instrument  that  could  be  safely  used  in  deeper  ones. 
If  it  were  sufficiently  small  to  adapt  itself  to  the  tortuous  course  of  little 
wounds,  it  would  be  cooled  and  inert  before  it  could  have  destroyed  the 
lower  portions  of  them.  If  it  were  of  sufficient  substance  long  to  retain 
the  heat,  it  would  make  a  large  and  fearful  chasm,  and  probably  interfere 
with  the  future  usefulness  of  the  animal.  The  result  of  the  cases  in  which 
the  cautery  has  been  used  proves  that  in  too  many  instances  it  is  an  ineffi- 
cient protection.  The  rabid  dog  in  Park  Lane  has  already  been  men- 
tioned. He  bit  several  horses  before  he  could  be  destroyed.  Caustic  was 
applied  to  one  of  them,  and  the  hot  iron  to  the  others.  The  first  was  saved, 
almost  all  the  others  were  lost.  A  similar  case  occurred  last  spring ;  the 
caustic  was  an  efficacious  preventive ;  the  cautery  was  perfectly  useless. 
What  caustic  then  should  be  applied  ?  Certainly  not  that  to  which  the 
surgeon  usually  has  recourse — a  liquid  one.  Certainly  not  one  that 
speedily  deliquesces  ;  for  they  are  both  unmanageable,  and,  what  is  a  more 
important  consideration,  they  may  hold  in  solution,  and  not  decompose  the 
poison,  and  thus  inoculate  the  whole  of  the  wound.  The  application 
which  promises  to  be  successful,  is  that  of  the  lunar  caustic.  It  is  per- 
fectly manageable,  and,  being  sharpened  to  a  point,  may  be  applied  with 
certainty  to  every  recess  and  sinuosity  of  the  wound. 

Potash  and  nitric  acid  form  a  caustic  which  will  destroy  the  substances 
with  which  they  come  in  contact,  but  the  combination  of  this  caustic  and 
the  animal  fibre  will  be  a  soft  or  semi-fluid  mass.  In  this  the  virus  is  sus- 
pended, and  with  this  it  lies  or  may  be  precipitated  upon  the  living  fibre 
beneath.  Then  there  is  danger  of  re-inoculation  ;  and  it  would  seem  that 
this  fatal  process  is  often  accomplished.  The  eschar  formed  by  the  lunar 
caustic  is  dry,  hard,  and  insoluble.  If  the  whole  of  the  wound  has  been 
fairly  exposed  to  its  action,  an  insoluble  compound  of  animal  fibre  and  the 
metallic  salt  is  produced,  in  which  the  virus  is  wrapped  up,  and  from 
which  it  cannot  be  separated.  In  a  short  time  the  dead  matter  sloughs 
away,  and  the  virus  is  thrown  off  with  it. 

Previous  to  applying  the  caustic  it  will  sometimes  be  necessary  to  enlarge 
the  wound,  in  order  that  every  part  may  be  fairly  got  at ;  and  the  eschar 
having  sloughed  off,  it  will  always  be  prudent  to  apply  the  caustic  a  second 

L  2 


148  BABIES. 

time,  but  more  slightly,  in  order  to  destroy  any  part  that  may  not  have 
received  the  full  influence  of  the  first  operation,  or  that,  by  possibility, 
might  have  been  inoculated  during  the  operation. 

Mr.  Smerdon,  in  the  Medical  and  Physical  Journal,  March  1820,  thus 
reasons  : — "  All  the  morbid  poisons  that  require  to  lie  dormant  a  certain 
time  before  their  effects  are  manifested,  pass  into  the  system  through  the 
medium  of  the  absorbents,"  (we  somewhat  differ  from  Mr.  Smerdon  here, 
but  his  reasoning  is  equally  applicable  to  the  nervous  system,)  "and  if  the 
absorbents  are  excited,  their  action  is  increased.  I  am  satisfied  that  even 
in  a  venereal  sore  the  application  of  a  caustic,  instead  of  destroying  the 
disease,  causes  its  rapid  extension.  Then,"  asks  he,  "  if  the  virus  on  a 
small  venereal  sore  is  rendered  more  active  by  the  caustic,  is  it  not  highly 
probable  that  the  same  law  holds  good  with  respect  to  the  poison  of 
rabies  ?" 

The  sooner  the  caustic  is  applied  the  better  ;  but  I  should  not  hesitate 
to  have  recourse  to  it  even  after  the  constitution  has  become  affected.  It 
is  related  in  the  Medico-Chirurgical  Annals  of  Altenburg  (Sept.  1821), 
that  two  men  were  bitten  by  a  rabid  dog.  One  became  hydrophobpus  and 
died ;  the  other  had  evident  symptoms  of  hydrophobia  a  few  days  after- 
wards. A  surgeon  excised  the  bitten  part,  and  the  disease  disappeared. 
After  a  period  of  six  days  the  symptoms  returned.  The  wound  was  ex- 
amined ;  considerable  fungus  was  found  sprouting  from  its  bottom.  This 
was  extirpated.  The  hydrophobic  symptoms  were  again  removed,  and  the 
man  did  well.  This  is  a  most  instructive  case. 

In  the  Journal  Pratique  de  Medecine  Ve'terinaire,  M.  Damalix  gives  an 
interesting  account  of  the  effect  of  a  bite  of  a  rabid  dog  on  a  horse.  On 
the  8th  of  July,  1828,  a  fowl-merchant,  proceeding  to  the  market  of  Col- 
mar,  was  attacked  by  a  dog,  who,  after  some  fruitless  efforts  to  get  into 
the  cart,  bit  the  horse  on  the  left  side  of  the  face,  and  fled  precipitately. 
A  veterinary  surgeon  was  sent  for,  who  applied  the  cautery  to  the  horse, 
gave  him  some  populeum  ointment,  and  bled  him.  Everything  appeared  to 
go  on  well,  and  on  the  16th  the  wounds  were  healed. 

On  the  25th  a  great  alteration  took  place.  The  horse  was  careless  and 
slow ;  he  sometimes  refused  to  go  at  all,  and  would  not  attend  in  the  least 
to  the  whip,  which  had  never  occurred  before.  In  the  evening  the  wounds 
opened  spontaneously,  an  ichorous  and  infectious  pus  run  from  them  ; 
there  was  salivation  and  utter  loss  of  appetite :  strange  fancies  seemed  to 
possess  him  ;  he  showed  a  desire  to  bite  his  master.  The  veterinary  sur- 
geon might  approach  him  with  safety ;  but  the  moment  his  owner  or  the 
children  appeared,  he  darted  at  them,  and  would  have  torn  them  in  pieces. 
The  disease  now  took  on  the  appearance  of  acute  glanders  ;  livid  and 
fungous  wounds  broke  out ;  the  stable  was  saturated  with  an  infectious 
smell,  the  horse  refused  his  food,  or  was  unable  to  eat.  The  mayor  at  last 
interfered,  and  the  animal  was  destroyed.  In  the  Treatises  on  The  Horse, 
Cattle,  and  Sheep,  in  former  volumes,  accounts  are  fully  given  of  this 
dreadful  malady  in  these  animals.  It  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  give  a 
hasty  sketch  of  it  in  some  of  the  inferior  classes. 

Rabies  in  the  Rabbit. — I  very  much  regret  that  I  never  instituted  a 
course  of  experiments  on  the  production  and  treatment  of  rabies  in  this 
animal.  It  would  have  been  attended  with  little  expense  or  danger,  and 
some  important  discoveries  might  have  been  made.  Mr.  Earle,  in  a  case 


RABIES.  149 

in  which  he  was  much  interested,  inoculated  two  rabbits  with  the  saliva 
of  a  dog  that  had  died  rabid.  They  were  punctured  at  the  root  of  the  ears. 
One  of  the  rabbits  speedily  became  inflamed  about  the  ears,  and  the  ears 
were  paralysed  in  both  rabbits.  The  head  swelled  very  much,  and  exten- 
sive inflammation  took  place  around  the  part  where  the  virus  was  inserted. 
One  of  them  died  without  exhibiting  any  of  the  usual  symptoms  of  the 
disease ;  the  other,  after  a  long  convalescence,  survived,  and  eventually 
recovered  the  use  of  his  ears.  Mr.  Earle  very  properly  doubted  whether 
this  was  a  case  of  rabies. 

Dr.  Capello  describes,  but  in  not  so  satisfactory  a  manner  as  could 
be  wished,  a  case  of  supposed  rabies  in  one  of  these  animals.  A  rabbit 
and  a  dog  lived  together  in  a  family.  They  were  strange  associates ;  but 
such  friendships  are  not  unfrequent  among  animals.  The  dog  became 
rabid,  and  died.  A  man  bitten  by  that  dog  became  hydrophobous,  and 
died.  No  one  dreamed  of  the  rabbit  being  in  danger,  and  he  ran  about 
the  house  as  usual ;  but,  one  day,  he  found  his  way  to  the  chamber  of  the 
mistress  of  the  house,  with  a  great  deal  of  viscid  saliva  running  from  his 
mouth,  furiously  attacked  her,  and  left  the  marks  of  his  violence  on  her 
leg.  He  then  ran  into  a  neighbouring  stable,  and  bit  the  hind  legs  of 
a  horse  several  times.  Finally,  he  retreated  to  a  corner  of  the  stable,  and 
was  there  found  dead.  Neither  the  lady  nor  the  horse  eventually  suffered. 

Rabies  in  the  Guinea-pig. — A  man  suspected  of  being  hydrophobous 
was  taken  to  the  Middlesex  Hospital.  He  was  examined  before  several  of 
the  medical  students ;  one  of  whom,  in  order  to  make  more  sure  of  the 
affair,  inoculated  a  guinea-pig  with  the  saliva  taken  from  the  man's  mouth. 
The  guinea-pig  had  been  usually  very  playful,  and  fond  of  being  noticed ; 
but,  on  the  eleventh  day  after  this  inoculation,  he  began  to  be  dull  and 
sullen,  retiring  into  his  house,  and  hiding  himself  as  much  as  he  could  in 
a  corner.  On  the  following  day  he  became  out  of  temper,  and  even  fero- 
cious in  his  way ;  he  bit  at  everything  that  was  presented  to  him,  gnawed 
his  cage,  and  made  the  most  determined  efforts  to  escape.  Once  or  twice 
his  violence  induced  convulsions  of  his  whole  frame ;  and  they  might  be 
produced  at  pleasure  by  dashing  a  little  water  at  him.  In  the  course  of 
the  night  following  he  died. 

Rabies  in  the  Cat. — Fortunately  for  us,  this  does  not  often  occur  ;  for  a 
mad  cat  is  a  truly  ferocious  animal.  I  have  seen  two  cases,  one  of  them 
to  my  cost ;  yet,  I  am  unable  to  give  any  satisfactory  account  of  the  pro- 
gress of  the  disease.  The  first  stage  seems  to  be  one  of  sullenness,  and 
which  would  probably  last  to  death  ;  but  from  that  sullenness  it  is  dan- 
gerous to  rouse  the  animal.  It  probably  would  not,  except  in  the  paroxysm 
of  rage,  attack  any  one ;  but  during  that  paroxysm  it  knows  no  fear,  nor 
has  its  ferocity  any  bounds. 

A  cat,  that  had  been  the  inhabitant  of  a  nursery,  and  the  playmate  of 
the  children,  had  all  at  once  become  sullen  and  ill-tempered.  It  had 
taken  refuge  in  an  upper  room,  and  could  not  be  coaxed  from  the  corner 
in  which  it  had  crouched. 

It  was  nearly  dark  when  I  went.  I  saw  the  horrible  glare  of  her  eyes, 
but  I  could  not  see  so  much  of  her  as  I  wished,  and  I  said  that  I  would 
call  again  in  the  morning. 

I  found  the  patient,  on  the  following  day,  precisely  in  the  same  situation 
and  the  same  attitude,  crouched  up  in  a  corner,  and  ready  to  spring.  I  was 
very  much  interested  in  the  case  ;  and  as  I  wanted  to  study  the  countenance 


150  RABIES. 

of  this  demon,  for  she  looked  like  one,  I  was  foolishly,  inexcusably  im- 
prudent. I  went  on  my  hands  and  knees,  and  brought  my  face  nearly  on 
a  level  with  hers,  and  gazed  on  those  glaring  eyes,  and  that  horrible 
countenance,  until  I  seemed  to  feel  the  deathly  influence  of  a  spell  stealing 
over  me.  I  was  not  afraid,  but  every  mental  and  bodily  power  was  in 
a  manner  suspended.  My  countenance,  perhaps,  alarmed  her,  for  she 
sprang  on  me,  fastened  herself  on  my  face,  and  bit  through  both  my  lips. 
She  then  darted  down  stairs,  and,  I  believe,  was  never  seen  again.  I 
always  have  nitrate  of  silver  in  my  pocket,  even  now  I  am  never  with- 
out it ;  I  washed  myself,  and  applied  the  caustic  with  some  severity  to 
the  wound ;  and  my  medical  adviser  and  valued  friend,  Mr.  Millington, 
punished  me  still  more  after  I  got  home.  My  object  was  attained,  although 
at  somewhat  too  much  cost,  for  the  expression  of  that  brute's  countenance 
will  never  be  forgotten. 

The  later  symptoms  of  rabies  in  this  animal,  no  one,  perhaps,  has  had 
the  opportunity  of  observing :  we  witness  only  the  sullenness  and  the 
ferocity. 

Rabies  in  the  Fowl. — Dr.  Ashburner  and  Mr.  King  inoculated  a  hen 
with  the  saliva  from  a  rabid  cow.  They  made  two  incisions  through  the 
integument,  under  the  wings,  and  then  well  rubbed  into  these  cuts  the 
foam  taken  from  the  cow's  mouth.  She  was  after  this  let  loose  among 
other  fowls  in  the  poultry-yard.  The  incisions  soon  healed,  and  their 
places  could  with  difficulty  be  discovered.  Ten  weeks  passed  over,  when 
she  was  observed  to  refuse  her  food,  and  to  run  at  the  other  fowls.  She 
had  a  strange,  wild  appearance,  and  her  eyes  were  bloodshot.  Early  on 
the  following  morning  her  legs  became  contracted,  so  that  she  very  soon 
lost  the  power  of  standing  upright.  She  remained  sitting  a  long  time, 
with  the  legs  rigid,  refusing  food  and  water,  and  appearing  very  irritable 
when  touched.  She  died  in  the  evening,  immediately  after  drinking  a 
large  quantity  of  water  which  had  been  offered  to  her. 

Rabies  in  the  JBadger. — Hufeland,  in  his  valuable  Journal  of  Practical 
Medicine,  relates  a  case  of  a  rabid  female  badger  attacking  two  boys. 
She  bit  them  both,  but  she  fastened  on  the  thigh  of  one  of  them,  and  was 
destroyed  in  the  act  of  sucking  his  blood.  The  poor  fellow  died  hydro- 
phobous,  but  the  other  escaped.  This  fact,  certainly,  gives  us  no  idea  of 
the  general  character  of  the  disease  in  this  animal ;  but  it  speaks  volumes 
as  to  its  ferocity. 

Rabies  in  the  Wolf. — Rabies  is  ushered  in  by  nearly  the  same  symptoms, 
and  pursues  the  same  course  in  the  wolf  as  in  the  dog,  with  this  differ- 
ence, which  would  be  readily  expected,  that  his  ferocity  and  the  mischief 
which  he  accomplishes  are  much  greater.  The  dog  hunts  out  his  own 
species,  and  his  fury  is  principally  directed  against  them ;  although,  if  he 
meets  with  a  flock  of  sheep,  or  a  herd  of  cattle,  he  readily  attacks  them, 
and,  perhaps,  bites  the  greater  part  of  them.  The  dog,  however,  fre- 
quently turns  out  of  his  way  to  avoid  the  human  being,  and  seldom  attacks 
him  without  provocation.  The  wolf,  on  the  contrary,  although  he  com- 
mits fearful  ravages  among  the  sheep  and  cattle,  searches  out  the  human 
being  as  his  favourite  prey.  He  conceals  himself  near  the  entrance  to  the 
village,  and  steals  upon  and  wounds  every  passenger  that  he  can  get  at. 
There  are  several  accounts  of  more  than  twenty  persons  having  been 
bitten  by  one  wolf;  and  there  is  a  fearful  history  of  sixteen  persons 
perishing  from  the  bite  of  one  of  these  animals.  This  is  in  perfect  agree- 


RABIES.  151 

ment  with  the  account  which  I  have  given  of  the  connexion  between 
the  previous  temper  and  habits  of  the  rabid  dog,  and  the  mischief  that 
he  effects  under  the  influence  of  this  malady.  The  wolf,  as  he  wanders 
in  the  forest,  regards  the  human  being  as  his  persecutor  and  foe ;  and, 
in  the  paroxysm  of  rabid  fury,  he  is  most  eager  to  avenge  himself  on  his 
natural  enemy.  Strange  stories  are  told  of  the  arts  to  which  he  has 
recourse  in  order  to  accomplish  his  purpose.  In  the  great  majority  of 
cases  he  steals  unawares  upon  his  victim,  and  the  mischief  is  affected 
before  the  wood-cutter  or  the  villager  is  conscious  of  his  danger. 

The  following  observations  and  experiments  respecting  rabies,  by  Dr. 
Hertwich,  Professor  at  the  Veterinary  School  at  Berlin,  are  well  worthy 
of  attention. 

1.  Out  of  fifty  dogs  that  had  been  inoculated  with  virus  taken  from  a 
rabid  animal  of  the  same  species,  fourteen  only  were  infected. 

2.  In  the  cases  where  inoculation  had  been  practised  without  effect,  no 
reason  could  be  assigned  why  the  disease  should  not  have  taken  place. 
This  consequently  proves  that  the  malady  is  similar  to  others  of  a  conta- 
gious nature,  and  that  there  must  exist  a  predisposition  in  the  individual 
to  receive  the  disease  before  it  can  occur.     In  one  experiment,  a  mastiff 
dog,  aged  four  years,  was  inoculated  without  exhibiting  any  symptoms  of 
the  malady,  while  seven  others,  who  had  been  inoculated  at  the  same  time 
and  place,  soon  became  rabid.     Several  of  these  animals  had  been  inocu- 
lated several  times  before  any  symptoms  showed  themselves,  while,   in 
others,  on  the  contrary,  once  was  sufficient. 

3.  It  appears  that  in  a  state  of  doubtful  rabies,  one  or  two  accidental  or 
artificial  inoculations  are  not  sufficient  to  create  a  negative  proof  of  its 
existence. 

4.  This  disease  has  never  been  communicated  to  an  individual  from 
one  infected  by  means  of  the  perspirable  matter  ;  this,  therefore,  is  a  proof 
that  the  contagious  part  of  the  disease  is  not  of  a  volatile  nature. 

5.  It  does  not  only  exist  in  the  saliva  and  the  mucus  of  the  mouth,  but 
likewise  in  the  blood  and  the  parenchyma  of  the  salivary  glands ;  but  not 
in  the  pulpy  substance  of  the  nerves. 

6.  The  power  of  communicating  infection  is  found  to  exist  in  all  stages 
of  the  confirmed  disease,  even  twenty-four  hours  after  the  decease  of  the 
rabid  animal. 

7.  The  morbid  virus,  when  administered  internally,  appears  to  be  in- 
capable of  communicating  this  disease  ;   inasmuch  as  of  twenty  dogs  to 
whom  was  given  a  certain  quantity,  not  one  exhibited  the  least  symptom 
of  rabies. 

8.  The  application  of  the  saliva  upon   recent  wounds  appears  to  have 
been  as  often  succeeded  by  confirmed  rabies  as  when  the  dog  had  been 
bitten  by  a  rabid  animal. 

9.  It  cannot  now  be  doubted  that  the  disease  is  produced  by  the  wound 
itself,  as  was  supposed  by  M.  Girard  of  Lyons,  not  by  the  fright  of  the  in- 
dividual, according  to  the  opinion  of  others,  but  only  from  the  absorption 
of  the  morbid  virus  from  its  surface. 

10.  Several  experiments  have  proved  to  me  the  little  reliance  there  is 
to  be  placed  on  the  opinions  of  Baden  and  Capello,  who  believe  that,  in 
those  dogs  who  become  rabid  after  the  bite  of  an    animal   previously 
attacked  with  this  disease,   the  contagious  properties  of  the  saliva  is  not 
continued,  but  only  exists  in  those  primarily  bitten. 


152  RABIES. 

11.  During  the  period  of  incubation  of  the  virus  there  are  no  morbid, 
local,  or  general  alterations  of  structure  or  function  to  be  seen  in  the 
infected  animal ;  neither  are  there  any  vesicles  to  be  perceived  on  the  in- 
ferior surface  of  the  tongue,  nor  any  previous  symptoms  which  are  found 
in  other  contagious  diseases. 

12.  This  disease  is  generally  at  its  height  at  the  end  of  fifty  days  after 
either  artificial  or  accidental  inoculation  ;  and  the  author  has  never  known 
it  to  manifest  itself  at  a  later  period. 

13.  It  is  quite  an  erroneous  idea  to  suppose  that  dogs  in  a  state  of 
health  are  enabled  to  distinguish,  at  first  sight,  a  rabid  animal,  inasmuch 
as  they  never  refuse  their  food  when  mixed  with  the  secretions  of  those 
infected.3 

The  following  singular  trial  respecting  the  death  of  a  child  by 
hydrophobia  is  worth  quoting : — 

Jones  v.  Parry. — The  plaintiff  is  a  labourer,  who  gets  only  fourteen  shil- 
lings a-week  to  support  himself  and  his  family.  The  defendant  is  his 
neighbour,  and  keeps  a  public-house.  This  was  an  action  brought  by  the 
plaintiff  to  recover  damages  against  the  defendant  for  the  loss  of  his  son, 
seven  years  of  age,  who  was  bitten  by  the  defendant's  dog,  and  afterwards 
became  affected  with  rabies,  of  which  disease  he  died. 

It  appeared  in  the  evidence  that  the  defendant's  dog  had,  some  time  ago, 
been  bitten  by  another  dog ;  in  consequence  of  which  this  dog  was  tied  in 
the  cellar,  but  the  length  of  the  rope  which  was  allowed  him  enabled  him 
to  go  to  a  considerable  distance.  The  plaintiff's  child  knew  the  dog,  having 
often  played  with  him  when  he  was  at  large.  Some  time  ago  the  child 
crossed  the  street,  near  to  the  place  where  the  dog  was  fastened,  who 
rushed  out  of  the  place  in  which  he  was  confined  to  where  the  child 
stood,  sprung  upon  him,  and  bit  him  sadly  in  the  face,  and  afterwards 
violently  shook  him.  The  child  being  thus  wounded,  a  surgeon  was  sent 
for,  who,  after  having  dressed  him,  and  attended  him  for  a  certain  time, 
gave  directions  that  he  should  be  taken  to  the  sea-side,  and  bathed  in  the 
salt  water. 

This  having  been  continued  for  some  time,  the  child  was  brought  home, 
and,  at  the  expiration  of  a  month  from  the  day  on  which  he  was  bitten, 
became  evidently  and  strangely  ill.  The  surgeon  proved  beyond  all 
shadow  of  doubt  that  the  child  laboured  under  rabies ;  that  he  had  the 
never-failing  symptoms  of  that  dreadful  affliction ;  and  that,  a  little  while 
before  he  expired,  he  even  barked  like  a  dog.  The  surgeon's  charge  to 
the  father  for  his  attendance  was  II,  6s.  6c?.,  which,  together  with  the 
charge  of  the  undertaker  for  the  funeral  of  the  child,  amounted  to  between 
six  and  seven  pounds.  Application  was  made  to  the  defendant  to  defray 
this  expense,  which  at  first  he  expressed  a  willingness  to  comply  with,  but 
afterwards  refused ;  upon  which  this  action  was  brought. 

After  some  time  the  defendant  offered  to  pay  the  plaintiff  the  sum  of 
61.  3s.  6d.,  and  the  expense  of  the  funeral  and  the  surgeon,  provided  the 
plaintiff  would  bear  the  expenses  of  the  lawsuit,  which  he  was  not  in  a 
condition  to  do,  as  probably  it  would  amount  to  more  than  that  money. 
On  this  account,  therefore,  the  action  was  now  brought  into  court.  There 
was  no  proof  that  the  defendant  knew  or  suspected  his  dog  to  be  mad, 
previously  to  his  attacking  the  boy ;  but  an  animal  known  to  have  been 

*  Journal  Pratique  de  Mcd.  Vet. 


RABIES.  153 

bitten  by  a  mad  dog,  ought  either  to  have  been  at  once  destroyed,  or  so 
secured  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  do  mischief. 

Lord  Kenyon  observed  to  the  jury,  that  this  was  one  of  those  causes 
which  came  home  to  the  feelings  of  all,  yet  must  not  be  carried  farther 
than  justice  demanded.  A  cause  like  this  never,  perhaps,  before  occurred  in 
a  court  of  justice  ;  but  there  had  been  many  resembling  it  in  point  of  prin- 
ciple. If  a  dog,  known  to  be  ill-tempered  and  vicious,  did  any  person  an 
injury  without  provocation,  there  could  be  no  question  that  the  owner  of 
the  dog  was  answerable,  in  a  court  of  justice,  for  the  injury  inflicted. 
Here  was  a  worse  case.  The  dog  by  whom  the  child  was  bitten  had  been 
attacked  by  another  that  was  undeniably  rabid.  His  master  was  aware  of 
this,  and  placed  him  in  a  state  of  partial  confinement — a  confinement  so 
lax,  and  so  inefficient,  that  this  poor  child  had  broken  through  it,  and 
was  bitten  and  died.  What  other  people  would  have  done  in  such  a  situ- 
ation he  could  not  tell ;  but,  if  he  were  asked  what  he  would  do,  he 
answered,  he  certainly  would  kill  the  dog,  however  much  of  a  favourite  he 
had  been,  because  no  atonement  was  within  the  reach  of  his  fortune  to 
make  to  the  injured  party  for  such  a  dreadful  visitation  of  Providence  as 
this.  It  was  not  enough  for  the  owner  of  such  a  dog  to  say,  he  took  pre- 
caution to  prevent  mischief:  he  ought  to  have  made  it  impossible  that 
mischief  could  happen  ;  and,  therefore,  as  soon  as  there  was  any  reason- 
able suspicion  that  the  dog  was  rabid,  he  ought  to  have  destroyed  him. 

But,  if  the  owner  wished  to  save  the  animal,  until  he  was  satisfied  of  the 
actual  state  of  the  case,  he  ought  to  have  secured  him,  so  that  every  indi- 
vidual might  be  safe.  Whether  the  defendant  thought  he  had  done  all 
that  was  necessary,  his  lordship  did  not  know ;  but  this  he  knew,  that 
the  dog  was  not  perfectly  secured,  otherwise  this  misfortune  could  not 
have  happened. 

The  care  which  the  defendant  took  in  this  case  was  not  enough,  and, 
therefore,  he  had  no  doubt  that  this  action  was  maintainable.  The  jury 
would  judge  what  damages  they  ought  to  give.  He  would  refer  this  to 
their  feelings.  They  could  not  avoid  commiserating  the  distress  of  the 
family  of  this  poor  man.  He  should,  however,  observe  to  the  jury,  that 
they  must  not  give  vindictive  damages  ;  but  still  he  did  not  think  that 
damages  merely  to  the  amount  of  6/.  or  7/.,  which  was  stated  to  be  the 
expense  of  the  funeral,  &c.,  would  at  all  meet  the  justice  of  the  case.  He 
was  inclined  to  advise  them  to  go  beyond  that,  although  he  did  not  plead 
vindictive  damages.  There  would  be  costs  to  be  defrayed  by  the 
plaintiff,  well  known  in  the  profession  under  the  head  of  "  extra  costs," 
even  although  he  had  a  verdict.  If  the  verdict  had  been  at  his  disposal, 
he  would  have  taken  care  that  these  costs  should  have  been  borne  by  the 
party  that  had  been  the  cause  of  the  injury.  That  appeared  to  him  to  be 
the  justice  of  the  case.  _« 

He  trusted  that  none  who  heard  him  would  doubt  his  sincerity,  when  he 
said,  he  lamented  the  misfortune  which  had  given  birth  to  this  action ; 
and,  with  that  qualification  of  the  case,  he  must  say  that  he  was  not  sorry 
that  this  action  had  been  brought.  He  thanked  the  plaintiff  for  bringing 
it ;  for  it  might  be  of  public  benefit.  It  would  teach  a  lesson  that  would 
not  soon  be  forgotten,  "  That  a  person,  who  knowingly  keeps  a  vicious, 
dangerous  animal,  should  be  considered  to  be  answerable  for  all  the  acts 
of  that  animal."  There  were  instances  in  which  very  large  damages  had 
been  given  to  repair  such  injuries.  He  did  not  say  that  the  present  case 


154  BABIES. 

called  for  large  damages ;  but,  if  other  cases  of  the  same  kind  should  be 
brought  into  court  after  this  had  been  made  public,  he  hoped  the  jury 
would  go  beyond  the  ordinary  limits,  and  give  verdicts  which  might  ope- 
rate in  terrorem  on  the  offending  parties. 

Verdict  for  the  plaintiff— damages  36/.a 

A  child  was  bitten  by  a  rabid  dog  at  York,  and  became  hydrophobous. 
All  possibility  of  relief  having  vanished,  the  parents,  desirous  of  putting 
an  end  to  the  agony  of  their  child,  or  fearful  of  its  doing  mischief^ 
smothered  it  between  two  pillows.  They  were  tried  for  murder,  and 
found  guilty.  They  were  afterwards  pardoned  ;  but  the  intention  of  the 
prosecutor  was  that  of  deterring  others  from  a  similar  practice,  in  a  like 
unfortunate  situation.1" 

In  1821,  a  physician,  at  Poissy,  was  sentenced  to  pay  8000  francs  (320/.) 
to  a  poor  widow  whose  husband  died  of  hydrophobia,  in  consequence  of  a 
bite  from  the  physician's  dog,  he  knowing  that  the  dog  had  been  bitten, 
yet  not  confining  him. 

a  Sporting  Magazine,  vol.  xviii.  p.  186.         b  Daniel's  Rural  Sports,  vol.  i.  p.  220. 


THE  EYE  AND  ITS  DISEASES.  155 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  EYE  AND  ITS  DISEASES. 

THE  diseases  that  attack  the  same  organ  are  essentially  different,  in  different 
animals,  in  their  symptoms,  intensity,  progress,  and  mode  of  treatment. 
In  periodic  ophthalmia — that  pest  of  the  equine  race  and  opprobrium  of  the 
veterinary  profession — the  cornea  becomes  suddenly  opaque,  the  iris  pale, 
the  aqueous  humour  turbid,  the  capsule  of  the  lens  cloudy,  and  blindness  is 
the  result.  After  a  time,  however,  the  cornea  clears  up,  and  becomes  as 
bright  as  ever ;  but  the  lens  continues  impervious  to  light,  and  vision  is  lost. 

Ophthalmia  in  the  dog  presents  us  with  symptoms  altogether  different. 
The  conjunctiva  is  red ;  that  portion  of  it  which  spreads  over  the  sclerotica 
is  highly  injected,  and  the  cornea  is  opaque.  As  the  disease  proceeds,  and 
even  at  a  very  early  period  of  its  progress,  an  ulcer  appears  on  the  centre ; 
at  first  superficial,  but  enlarging  and  deepening  until  it  has  penetrated  the 
cornea,  and  the  aqueous  humour  has  escaped.  Granulations  then  spring 
from  the  edges  of  the  ulcer,  rapidly  enlarge,  and  protrude  through  the  lids. 
Under  proper  treatment,  however,  or  by  a  process  of  nature,  these  granu- 
lations cease  to  sprout ;  they  begin  to  disappear ;  the  ulcer  diminishes ;  it 
heals ;  scarcely  a  trace  of  it  can  be  seen ;  the  cornea  recovers  its  perfect 
transparency,  and  vision  is  not  in  the  slightest  degree  impaired. 

There  is  a  state  of  the  orbit  which  requires  some  consideration.  It  is 
connected  with  the  muscles  employed  in  mastication.  Generally  speaking, 
the  food  of  the  dog  requires  no  extraordinary  degree  of  mastication,  nor  is 
there  usually  any  great  time  employed  in  this  operation.  That  muscle 
which  is  most  employed  in  the  comminution  of  the  food,  namely,  the 
temporal  muscle,  has  its  action  very  much  limited  by  the  position  of  the 
bony  socket  of  the  eye ;  yet  sufficient  room  is  left  for  all  the  force  that  can 
be  required.  In  some  dogs,  either  for  purposes  of  offence  or  defence,  or 
the  more  effectual  grasping  of  the  prey,  a  sudden  violent  exertion  of  mus- 
cular power,  and  a  consequent  contraction  of  the  temporal  muscle,  are  re- 
quisite, but  for  which  the  imperfect  socket  of  the  orbit  does  not  seem  to 
afford  sufficient  scope  and  room.  There  is  an  admirable  provision  for 
this  in  the  removal  of  a  certain  portion  of  the  orbital  process  of  the  frontal 
bone  on  the  outer  and  upper  part  of  the  external  ridge,  and  the  substitu- 
tion of  an  elastic  cartilage.  This  cartilage  momentarily  yields  to  the 
swelling  of  the  muscles ;  and  then,  by  its  inherent  elasticity,  the  external 
ridge  of  the  orbit  resumes  its  pristine  form.  The  orbit  of  the  dog,  the 
pig,  and  the  cat,  exhibits  this  singular  mechanism. 

The  horse  is,  to  a  certain  extent,  also  an  illustration  of  this.  He  re- 
quires an  extended  field  of  vision  to  warn  him  of  the  approach  of  his 
enemies  in  his  wild  state,  and  a  direction  of  the  orbits  somewhat  forward 
to  enable  him  to  pursue  with  safety  the  headlong  course  to  which  we 
sometimes  urge  him ;  and  for  this  purpose  his  eyes  are  placed  more  for- 
ward than  those  of  cattle,  sheep,  or  swine.  That  which  Mr.  Percivall 
states  of  the  horse  is  true  of  our  other  domesticated  animals: — "  The 


156  THE  EYE 

eyeball  is  placed  within  the  anterior  or  more  capacious  part  of  the  orbit, 
nearer  to  the  frontal  than  to  the  temporal  side,  with  a  degree  of  pro- 
minence peculiar  to  the  individual,  arid,  within  certain  limits,  variable  at 
his  will." 

In  many  of  the  carnivorous  animals  the  orbit  encroaches  on  the  bones 
of  the  face.  A  singular  effect  is  also  produced  on  the  countenance,  both 
when  the  animal  is  growling  over  his  prey  and  when  he  is  devouring  it. 
The  temporal  muscle  is  violently  acted  upon  ;  it  presses  upon  the  cartilage 
that  forms  part  of  the  external  ridge ;  that  again  forces  itself  upon  and  pro- 
trudes the  eye,  and  hence  the  peculiar  ferocity  of  expression  which  is 
observed  at  that  time.  The  victims  of  these  carnivorous  animals  are  also 
somewhat  provided  against  danger  by  the  acuteness  of  sight  with  which 
they  are  gifted.  Adipose  matter  also  exists  in  a  considerable  quantity  in 
the  orbit  of  the  eye,  which  enables  it  to  revolve  by  the  slightest  contraction 
of  the  muscles. 

We  should  scarcely  expect  to  meet  with  cases  of  fracture  of  the  orbital 
arch  in  the  dog,  because,  in  that  animal,  cartilage,  or  a  cartilago-liga- 
mentous  substance,  occupies  a  very  considerable  part  of  that  arch;  but  I 
have  again  and  again,  among  the  cruelties  that  are  practised  on  the  inferior 
creation,  seen  the  cartilage  partly,  or  even  entirely,  torn  asunder.  I  have 
never  been  able  satisfactorily  to  ascertain  the  existence  of  this  during  life ; 
but  I  have  found  it  on  those  whom  I  have  recommended  to  be  destroyed 
on  account  of  the  brutal  usage  which  they  had  experienced.  Blows  some- 
what higher,  or  on  the  thick  temporal  muscle  of  this  animal,  willgvery 
rarely  produce  a  fracture. 

A  few  cases  of  disease  in  the  eye  may  be  interesting  and  useful. 

Case  I. — The  eyes  of  a  favourite  spaniel  were  found  inflamed  and  im- 
patient of  light.  Nothing  wrong  had  been  perceived  on  the  preceding 
day.  No  ulceration  could  be  observed  on  the  cornea,  and  there  was  but  a 
slight  mucous  discharge.  An  infusion  of  digitalis,  with  twenty  times  the 
quantity  of  tepid  water,  was  employed  as  a  collyrium,  and  an  aloetic  ball 
administered.  On  the  following  day  the  eyes  were  more  inflamed.  The 
collyrium  and  the  aloes  were  employed  as  before,  and  a  seton  inserted  in 
the  poll. 

Three  or  four  days  afterwards  the  redness  was  much  diminished,  the 
discharge  from  the  eye  considerably  lessened,  and  the  dog  was  sent  home. 
The  seton,  however,  was  continued,  with  an  aloetic  ball  on  every  third  or 
fourth  day. 

Two  or  three  days  after  this  the  eyes  were  perfectly  cured  and  the  seton 
removed. 

Case  II. — The  eye  is  much  inflamed  and  the  brow  considerably  protruded. 

This  was  supposed  to  be  caused  by  a  bite.  I  vainly  endeavoured  to 
bring  the  lid  over  the  swelling.  I  scarified  the  lid  freely,  and  ordered  the 
bleeding  to  be  encouraged  by  the  constant  application  of  warm  water,  and 
a  physic-ball  to  be  given. 

On  the  following  day  the  brow  was  found  to  be  scarcely  or  at  all 
reduced,  and  the  eye  could  not  be  closed.  I  drew  out  the  haw  with  a 
crooked  needle,  and  cut  it  off  closely  with  sharp  scissors.  The  excised 
portion  was  as  large  as  a  small  kidney-bean.  The  fomentation  was  con- 
tinued five  days  afterwards,  and  the  patient  then  dismissed  cured. 

Case  III. — A  pointer  was  brought  in  a  sad  state  of  mange.  Redness, 
scurf,  and  eruptions  were  on  almost  every  part.  Apply  the  mange  ointment 


AND  ITS  DISEASES.  157 

and  the  alterative  and  physic  balls.  On  the  following  day  there  was  an 
ulcer  on  the  centre  of  the  cornea,  with  much  appearance  of  pain  and  im- 
patience of  light.  Apply  an  infusion  of  digitalis,  with  the  liquor  plumbi 
diacetatis.  He  was  taken  away  on  the  twelfth  day,  the  mange  apparently 
cured,  and  the  inflammation  of  the  eye  considerably  lessened.  A  fortnight 
afterwards  this  also  appeared  to  be  cured. 

Case  IV. — A  spaniel  had  been  bitten  by  a  large  dog.  There  was  no  wound 
of  the  lids,  but  the  eye  was  protruded  from  the  socket.  I  first  tried  whe- 
ther it  could  be  reduced  by  gentle  pressure,  but  I  could  not  accomplish  it. 
I  then  introduced  the  blunt  end  of  a  curved  needle  between  the  eye  and 
the  lid ;  and  thus  drawing  up  the  lid  with  the  right  hand,  while  I  pressed 
gently  on  the  eye  with  the  left  hand,  I  accomplished  my  object.  I  then 
subtracted  three  ounces  of  blood  and  gave  a  physic-ball.  On  the  following 
day  the  eye  was  hot  and  red,  with  some  tumefaction.  The  pupil  was 
moderately  contracted,  but  was  scarcely  affected  by  any  change  of  light. 
The  dog  was  sent  home,  with  some  extract  of  goulard,  and  a  fortnight 
afterwards  was  quite  well. 

Case  V. — A  dog  received  a  violent  blow  on  the  right  eye.  Immediate 
blindness  occurred,  or  the  dog  could  apparently  just  discern  the  difference 
between  light  and  darkness,  but  could  not  distinguish  particular  objects. 
The  pupil  was  expanded  and  immovable.  A  pink-coloured  hue  could 
be  perceived  on  looking  earnestly  into  the  eye.  A  seton  was  intro- 
duced into  the  poll,  kept  there  nearly  a  month,  and  often  stimulated  rather 
sharply.  General  remedies  of  almost  every  kind  were  tried :  depletion 
was  carried  to  its  full  extent,  the  electric  fluid  was  had  recourse  to  ;  but  at 
the  expiration  of  nine  weeks  the  case  was  abandoned  and  the  dog  destroyed. 
Permission  to  examine  him  was  refused. 

I  have,  in  two  or  three  instances,  witnessed  decided  cases  of  dropsy  of 
the  eye,  accumulation  of  fluid  taking  place  in  both  the  anterior  and 
posterior  chambers  of  the  eye ;  there  was  also  effusion  of  blood  in  the 
chambers,  but  in  one  case  only  was  there  the  slightest  benefit  produced 
by  the  treatment  adopted,  and  in  that  there  was  gradual  absorption  of  the 
effused  fluid. 

About  the  same  time  there  was  another  similar  case.  A  pointer  had 
suddenly  considerable  opacity  of  one  eye,  without  any  known  cause :  the 
other  eye  was  not  in  the  least  degree  affected.  The  dog  had  not  been  out 
of  the  garden  for  more  than  a  week.  The  eye  was  ordered  to  be  fomented 
with  warm  water. 

On  the  following  day  the  inflammation  had  increased,  and  the  adipose 
matter  was  protruded  at  both  the  inner  and  outer  canthus.  The  eye  was 
bathed  frequently  with  a  goulard  lotion.  On  the  fourth  day  the  eyeball 
was  still  more  inflamed,  and  the  projections  at  both  canthi  were  increased. 
A  curved  needle  was  passed  through  both  eyes,  and  there  was  considerable 
bleeding.  On  the  following  day  the  inflammation  began  to  subside.  At 
the  expiration  of  a  week  scarcely  any  disease  remained,  and  the  eye  became 
as  transparent  as  ever. 

A  curious  case  of  congenital  blindness  was  brought  to  my  infirmary. 
A  female  pointer  puppy,  eight  weeks  old,  had  both  her  eyes  of  their 
natural  size  and  formation,  but  the  inner  edge  of  the  iris  was  strangely 
diseased.  The  pupil  was  curiously  four-cornered  and  very  small.  There 
hung  out  of  the  pupil  a  grayish-white  fibrous  matter,  which  appeared  to  be 
the  remainder  of  the  pupillary  membrane. 


158  THE  EYE 

Six  months  afterwards  we  examined  her  again,  and  found  that  the  pupil 
was  considerably  enlarged,  and  properly  shaped,  and  the  white  skin  had 
vanished.  In  the  back-ground  of  the  eye  there  was  a  faint  yellow-green 
light,  and  the  dog  not  only  showed  sensibility  to  light,  but  some  perception 
of  external  objects.  At  this  period  we  lost  sight  of  her. 

A  very  considerable  improvement  has  taken  place  with  regard  to  the 
treatment  of  the  enlarged  or  protruded  ball  of  the  eye.  A  dog  may  get 
into  a  skirmish,  and  have  his  eye  forced  from  the  socket.  If  there  is  little 
or  no  bleeding,  the  case  will  probably  be  easily  and  successfully  treated. 

The  eye  must,  first,  be  thoroughly  washed,  and  not  a  particle  of  grit 
must  be  left.  A  little  oil,  a  crooked  needle,  and  a  small  piece  of  soft  rag 
should  be  procured.  The  blunt  end  of  the  needle  should  be  dipped  into 
the  oil,  and  run  round  the  inside  of  the  lid,  first  above  and  then  below. 
The  operator  will  next — his  fingers  being  oiled — press  upon  the  protruded 
eye  gently  yet  somewhat  firmly,  changing  the  pressure  from  one  part  of 
the  eye  to  the  other,  in  order  to  force  it  back  into  the  socket. 

If,  after  a  couple  of  minutes'  trial,  he  does  not  succeed,  let  him  again 
oil  the  eye  on  the  inside  and  the  out,  and  once  more  introduce  the  blunt 
end  of  the  needle,  attempting  to  carry  it  upwards  under  the  lid  with  two 
or  three  fingers  pressing  on  the  eye,  and  the  points  of  pressure  being  fre- 
quently changed.  In  by  far  the  greater  number  of  cases  the  eye  will  be 
saved. 

If  it  is  impracticable  to  cause  the  eye  to  retract,  a  needle  with  a  thread 
attached  must  be  passed  through  it,  the  eye  being  then  drawn  as  forward 
as  possible  and  cut  off  close  to  the  lids.  The  bleeding  will  soon  cease  and 
the  lids  perfectly  close. 

Ophthalmia  is  a  disease  to  which  the  dog  is  often  liable.  It  is  the  result 
of  exposure  either  to  heat  or  to  cold,  or  violent  exertion ;  it  is  remedied 
by  bleeding,  purging,  and  the  application  of  sedative  medicines,  as  the 
acetate  of  lead  or  the  tincture  of  opium.  When  the  eye  is  considerably 
inflamed,  in  addition  to  the  application  of  tepid  or  cold  water,  either  the 
inside  of  the  lids  or  the  white  of  the  eye  may  be  lightly  touched  with  the 
lancet.  From  exposure  to  cold,  or  accident  or  violence,  inflammation 
often  spreads  on  the  eye  to  a  considerable  degree,  the  pupil  is  clouded, 
and  small  streaks  of  blood  spread  over  the  opaque  cornea.  The  mode  of 
treatment  just  described  must  be  pursued. 

The  crystalline  lens  occasionally  becomes  opaque.  There  is  cataract. 
It  may  be  the  result  of  external  injury  or  of  internal  predisposition.  Old 
dogs  are  particularly  subject  to  cataract.  That  which  arises  from  acci- 
dent, or  occasionally  disease,  may,  although  seldom,  be  reinstated,  espe- 
cially in  the  young  dog,  and  both  eyes  may  become  sound ;  but,  in  the 
old,  the  slow-growing  opacity  will,  almost  to  a  certainty,  terminate  in 
cataract. 

There  is  occasionally  an  enlargement  of  the  eye,  or  rather  an  accumu- 
lation of  fluid  within  the  eye,  to  a  very  considerable  extent.  No  external 
application  seems  to  have  the  slightest  effect  in  reducing  the  bulk  of  the 
eye.  If  it  is  punctured,  much  inflammation  ensues,  and  the  eye  gradually 
wastes  away. 

In  amaurosis,  the  eye  is  beautifully  clear,  and,  for  a  little  while,  this 
clearness  imposes  upon  the  casual  observer ;  but  there  is  a  peculiar  pellucid 
appearance  about  the  eye — a  preternatural  and  unchanging  brightness.  In 


AND  ITS  DISEASES.  159 

the  horse,  the  sight  occasionally  returns,  but  I  have  never  seen  this  in  the 

The  occasional  glittering  of  the  eyes  of  the  dog  has  been  often  observed. 
The  cat,  the  wolf,  some  carnivora,  and  also  sheep,  cows,  and  horses,  occa- 
sionally exhibit  the  same  glittering.  Pallas  imagined  that  the  light  of  these 
animals  emanated  from  the  nervous  membrane  of  the  eye,  and  considered 
it  to  be  an  electrical  phenomenon.  It  is  found,  however,  in  every  animal 
that  possesses  a  tapetum  lucidum.  The  shining,  however,  never  takes  place 
in  complete  darkness.  It  is  neither  produced  voluntarily,  nor  in  conse- 
quence of  any  moral  emotion,  but  solely  from  the  reflection  that  falls  on 
the  eye. 


160  THE  EAR  AND  ITS  DISEASES. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  EAR  AND  ITS  DISEASES. 

Canker  in  the  Ear. — All  water-dogs,  and  some  others,  are  subject  to  a 
disease  designated  by  this  name,  and  which,  in  fact,  is  inflammation  of  the 
integumental  lining  of  the  inside  of  the  ear.  When  the  whole  of  the  body, 
except  the  head  and  ears,  is  surrounded  by  cold  water,  there  will  be  an  un- 
usual determination  of  blood  to  those  parts,  and  consequent  distension  of 
the  vessels  and  a  predisposition  to  inflammation.  A  Newfoundland  dog, 
or  setter,  or  poodle,  that  has  been  subject  to  canker,  is  often  freed  from  a 
return  of  the  disease  by  being  kept  from  the  water. 

The  earliest  symptom  of  the  approach  of  canker  is  frequent  shaking  of 
the  head,  or  holding  of  the  head  on  one  side,  or  violent  scratching  of  one 
or  both  ears.  Redness  of  the  integument  may  then  be  observed,  and 
particularly  of  that  portion  of  it  which  lines  the  annular  cartilage.  This 
is  usually  accompanied  by  some  enlargement  of  the  folds  of  the  skin.  As 
soon  as  any  of  these  symptoms  are  observed,  the  ear  should  be  gently 
but  well  washed,  two  or  three  times  in  the  day,  with  lukewarm  water, 
and  after  that  a  weak  solution  of  the  extract  of  lead  should  be  applied, 
and  a  dose  or  two  of  physic  administered. 

If  the  case  is  neglected,  the  pain  will  rapidly  increase ;  the  ear  will 
become  of  an  intenser  red ;  the  folds  of  the  integument  will  enlarge,  and 
there  will  be  a  deposition  of  red  or  black  matter  in  the  hollow  of  the  ear. 
The  case  is  now  more  serious,  and  should  be  immediately  attended  to. 
This  black  or  bloody  deposit  should  be  gently  but  carefully  washed  away 
with  warm  water  and  soap ;  and  the  extract  of  lead,  in  the  proportion  of 
a  scruple  to  an  ounce  of  water,  should  be  frequently  applied,  until  the  red- 
ness and  heat  are  abated.  A  solution  of  alum,  in  about  the  same  quantity 
of  alum  and  water  as  the  foregoing  lotion,  should  then  be  used. 

Some  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  method  of  applying  these  lotions. 
Two  persons  will  be  required  in  order  to  accomplish  the  operation.  The 
surgeon  must  hold  the  muzzle  of  the  dog  with  one  hand,  and  have  the  root 
of  the  ear  in  the  hollow  of  the  other,  and  between  the  first  finger  and  the 
thumb.  The  assistant  must  then  pour  the  liquid  into  the  ear ;  half  a 
tea-spoonful  will  usually  be  sufficient.  The  surgeon,  without  quitting  the 
dog,  will  then  close  the  ear,  and  mould  it  gently  until  the  liquid  has  in- 
sinuated itself  as  deeply  as  possible  into  the  passages  of  the  ear.  Should 
not  the  inflammation  abate  in  the  course  of  a  few  days,  a  seton  should  be 
inserted  in  the  poll,  between  the  integument  and  the  muscles  of  the 
occiput,  reaching  from  ear  to  ear.  The  excitement  of  a  new  inflammation, 
so  near  to  the  part  previously  diseased,  will  materially  abate  the  original 
affection.  Physic  is  now  indispensable.  From  half  a  drachm  to  a  drachm 
of  aloes,  with  from  one  to  two  grains  of  calomel,  should  be  given  every 
third  day. 

Should  the  complaint  have  been  much  neglected,  or  the  inflammation 
so  great  as  to  bid  defiance  to  these  means,  ulceration  will  too  often  speedily 


CANKER.  161 

follow.  It  will  be  found  lodged  deep  in  the  passage,  and  can  only  be 
detected  by  moulding  the  ear ;  the  effused  pus  will  occasionally  occupy 
the  inside  of  the  ear  to  its  very  tip.  However  extensive  and  annoying  the 
inflammation  may  be,  and  occasionally  causing  so  much  thickening  of  the 
integument  as  perfectly  to  close  the  ear,  it  is  always  superficial.  It  will 
generally  yield  to  proper  treatment,  and  the  cartilage  of  the  ear  may  not 
be  in  the  slightest  degree  affected.  Still,  however,  the  animal  may  suffer 
extreme  pain ;  the  discharge  from  the  ulcer  may  produce  extensive  ex- 
coriation of  the  cheek ;  and,  in  a  few  cases,  the  system  may  sympathise 
with  the  excessive  local  application,  and  the  animal  may  be  lost. 

The  treatment  must  vary  with  circumstances.  If  the  ulceration  is  deep 
in  the  ear,  and  there  is  not  a  very  great  degree  of  apparent  inflammation, 
recourse  may  be  had  at  once  to  a  stimulating  and  astringent  application, 
such  as  alum  or  the  sulphate  of  zinc,  and  in  the  proportion  of  six  grains 
of  either  to  an  ounce  of  water.  If,  however,  the  ulceration  occupies  the 
greater  part  of  the  hollow  of  the  ear,  and  is  accompanied  by  much  thick- 
ening of  the  integument,  and  apparent  filling  up  of  the  entrance  to  the  ear, 
some  portion  of  the  inflammation  must  be  first  subdued. 

The  only  chance  of  getting  rid  of  the  disease  is  to  confine  the  ear.  A 
piece  of  strong  calico  must  be  procured,  six  or  eight  inches  in  width,  and 
sufficiently  long  to  reach  round  the  head  and  meet  under  the  jaw.  Along 
each  side  of  it  must  be  a  running  piece  of  tape,  and  a  shorter  piece  sewed 
at  the  centre  of  each  of  the  ends.  By  means  of  these  the  cap  may  be 
drawn  tightly  over  the  head,  above  the  eyes,  and  likewise  round  the  neck 
behind  the  ears,  so  as  perfectly  to  confine  them. 

After  all,  no  mild  ointment  will  dispose,  such  an  ulcer  to  heal,  and 
recourse  must  be  had  at  once  to  a  caustic  application.  A  scruple  of  the 
nitrate  of  silver  must  be  rubbed  down  with  an  ounce  of  lard,  and  a  little 
of  it  applied  twice  every  day,  and  rubbed  tolerably  hard  into  the  sore 
until  it  assumes  a  healthy  appearance ;  it  may  then  be  dressed  with  the 
common  calamine  ointment. 

If  the  discharge  should  return,  the  practitioner  must  again  have  recourse 
to  the  caustic  ointment. 

The  cartilage  will  never  close,  but  the  integument  will  gradually  cover 
the  exposed  edges,  and  the  wound  will  be  healed.  The  ear  will,  however, 
long  continue  tender,  and,  if  it  should  be  much  beaten,  by  the  shaking  of 
the  head,  the  ulcer  will  reappear.  This  must  be  obviated  by  occasionally 
confining  the  ears,  and  not  over-feeding  the  dog. 

Some  sportsmen  are  accustomed  to  round  the  ears,  that  is  to  cut  off  the 
diseased  part.  In  very  few  instances,  however,  will  a  permanent  cure  be 
effected,  while  the  dog  is  often  sadly  disfigured.  A  fresh  ulcer  frequently 
appears  on  the  new  edge,  and  is  more  difficult  to  heal  than  the  original 
one.  Nine  times  out  of  ten  the  disease  reappears. 

The  Newfoundland  dog  is  very  subject  to  this  disease,  to  remedy  which 
recourse  must  be  had  to  the  nitrate  of  silver. 

Spaniels  have  often  a  mangy  inflammation  of  the  edges  of  the  ear.  It 
seldom  runs  on  to  canker ;  but  the  hair  comes  off  round  the  edges  of  the 
ear,  accompanied  by  much  heat  and  scurfiness  of  the  skin.  The  common 
sulphur  ointment,  with  an  eighth  part  of  mercurial  ointment,  will  usually 
remove  the  disease. 

From  the  irritation  produced  by  canker  in  or  on  the  ear,  and  the  con- 
stant flapping  and  beating  of  the  ear,  there  is  sometimes  a  considerable 

M 


162  THE  EAR  AND  ITS  DISEASES. 

effusion  of  fluid  between  the  integument  and  the  cartilage  occupying  the 
whole  of  the  inside  of  the  flap  of  the  ear.  The  only  remedy  is  to  open  the 
enlarged  part  from  end  to  end,  carefully  to  take  out  the  gossamer  lining 
of  the  cyst,  and  then  to  insert  some  bits  of  lint  on  each  side  of  the  incision, 
in  order  to  prevent  its  closing-  too  soon.  In  a  few  days,  the  parietes  of 
the  cyst  will  begin  to  adhere,  and  a  perfect  cure  will  be  accomplished. 

If  the  tumour  is  simply  punctured,  the  incision  will  speedily  close,  and 
the  cyst  will  fill  again  in  the  space  of  four-and-twenty  hours.  A  seton 
may  be  used,  but  it  is  more  painful  to  the  dog,  and  slower  in  its  operation. 
The  ear  should  be  frequently  fomented  with  a  docoction  of  white 
poppies,  and  to  this  should  follow  the  Goulard  lotion ;  and,  afterthat,  if 
necessary,  a  solution  of  alum  should  be  applied.  To  the  soreness  or  scabby 
eruption,  which  extends  higher  up  the  ear,  olive  oil  or  spermaceti  oint- 
ment may  be  applied.  In  some  cases,  portions  of  the  thickened  skin,  pro- 
jecting and  excoriated,  and  pressing  on  each  other,  unite,  and  the  opening 
into  the  ear  is  then  mechanically  filled.  I  know  not  of  any  remedy  for 
this.  It  is  useless  to  perforate  the  adventitious  substance,  for  the  orifice 
will  soon  close  ;  and,  more  than  once,  when  I  have  made  a  crucial  incision, 
and  cut  out  the  unnatural  mass  that  closed  the  passage,  I  have  found  it 
impossible  to  keep  down  the  fungous  granulations  or  to  prevent  total 
deafness. 

The  following  is  a  singular  case  of  this  disease : — 1st  July,  1820,  a  dog 
was  sent  with  a  tumour,  evidently  containing  a  fluid,  in  the  flap  of  the  ear. 
A  seton  had  been  introduced,  but  had  been  sadly  neglected.  The  hair  had 
become  matted  round  the  seton,  and  the  discharge  had  thus  been  stopped. 
Inflammation  and  considerable  pain  had  evidently  followed,  and  the  dog 
had  nearly  torn  the  seton  out.  I  removed  it,  washed  the  ear  well,  and 
applied  the  tincture  of  myrrh  and  aloes.  The  wound  soon  healed.  On 
the  14th  the  ear  began  again  to  fill.  On  the  17th  the  tumour  was  ripe 
for  the  seton,  which  was  again  introduced,  and  worn  until  the  9th  of 
August,  when  the  sides  of  the  abscess  appeared  again  to  have  adhered,  and 
it  was  withdrawn.  Canker  had  continued  in  the  ear  during  the  whole 
time ;  and,  in  defiance  of  a  cold  lotion  daily  applied,  the  ear  was  perceived 
again  to  be  disposed  to  fill.  The  seton  was  once  more  inserted,  and  the 
cyst  apparently  closed.  The  seton  was  continued  a  fortnight  after  the  sinus 
was  obliterated,  and  then  removed.  Six  weeks  afterwards  the  swelling 
had  disappeared,  and  the  canker  was  quite  removed.  This  anecdote  is  an 
encouragement  to  persevere  under  the  most  disheartening  circumstances. 

All  dogs  that  are  foolishly  suffered  to  become  gross  and  fat  are  subject 
to  canker.  It  seems  to  be  a  natural  outlet  for  excess  of  nutriment  or 
gross  humour  ;  and,  when  a  dog  has  once  laboured  under  the  disease,  he  is 
very  subject  to  a  return  of  it.  The  fatal  power  of  habit  is  in  few  cases 
more  evident  than  in  this  disease.  When  a  dog  has  symptoms  of  mange, 
the  redness  or  eruption  of  the  skin,  generally,  will  not  unfrequently  dis- 
appear, and  bad  canker  speedily  follow.  The  habit,  however,  may  be 
subdued,  or  at  least  may  be  kept  at  bay,  by  physic  and  the  use  of  Goulard 
lotion  or  alum. 

Sportsmen  are  often  annoyed  by  another  species  of  canker.  Pointers 
and  hounds  are  particularly  subject  to  it. 

This  species  of  canker  commences  with  a  scurfy  eruption  and  thicken- 
ing of  the  edges  of  the  ear,  apparently  attended  by  considerable  itching  or 
pain.  The  dog  is  continually  flapping  his  ear,  and  beating  it  violently 


CANKER.  163 

against  his  head.  The  inflammation  is  thus  increased,  and  the  tip  of  the 
ear  becomes  exceedingly  sore.  This  causes  him  to  shake  his  head  still 
more  violently,  and  the  ulcer  spreads  and  is  indisposed  to  heal,  and  at 
length  a  fissure  or  crack  appears  on  the  tip  of  the  cartilage,  and  extends 
to  a  greater  or  less  distance  down  the  ear. 

The  narration  of  one  or  two  cases  may  be  useful,  as  showing  the  invete- 
racy of  the  disease. 

8th  Feb.  1832.— A  Newfoundland  dog,  very  fat,  had  dreadful  canker 
in  both  ears,  and  considerable  discharge  of  purulent  matter.  He  was  con- 
tinually shaking  his  ears,  lying  and  moaning.  Apply  the  canker  lotion, 
and  give  the  alterative  balls. 

13th.  The  discharge  considerably  lessened  from  one  ear,  but  that  from 
the  other  has  increased.  Continue  the  lotion  and  apply  a  seton. 

22nd.  The  dog,  probably  neglected  at  home,  was  sent  to  me.  Both 
ears  were  as  bad  as  ever. 

25th.  The  dog  is  perfectly  unmanageable  when  the  lotion  is  poured  into 
the  ear,  but  submits  when  an  ointment  is  applied.  Use  ung.  sambuci,  3J. 
cerus.  acet.sj.,  mix  well  together.  Continue  the  alteratives. 

30th.  Slowly  amending ;  the  whining  has  ceased,  and  the  animal  seldom 
scratches.     Continue  the  lotion,  alteratives,  and  purgatives. 
10th.  Oct. — Slowly  improving.     Continue  the  treatment. 
17th.  One  ear  well,  the  other  nearly  so. 
24th.  Both  ears  were  apparently  well.     Omit  the  lotion. 
28th.  One  ear  was  again  ulcerated.     Applied  the  aerugo  aeris. 
31  st.  This  has  been  too  stimulating,  and  the  ulceration  is  almost  as  great 
as  at  first.     Return  to  the  ung.  sambuci  and  cerusa  acetata. 

From  this  time  to  the  24th  February,  1833,  we  continued  occasionally 
taking  out  the  seton,  but  returning  to  it  every  two  or  three  days  ;  applying 
the  canker  lotion  until  we  were  driven  from  it,  mixing  with  it  variable 
quantities  of  tinctura  opii,  having  recourse  to  mercurial  ointment,  and 
trying  a  solution  of  the  sulphate  of  copper.  With  two  or  three  applica- 
tions we  could  keep  the  disease  at  bay ;  but  with  none  could  we  fairly 
remove  the  evil.  The  sulphate  of  zinc,  the  acetate  of  lead,  decoctions  of 
oak  bark,  a  .very  mild  injection  of  the  nitrate  of  silver, — all  would  do  good 
at  times  ;  but  at  other  times  we  were  set  at  complete  defiance. 

Another  gentleman  brought  his  dog  about  the  same  time.  This  was  also 
a  Newfoundland  dog.  He  had  always  been  subject  to  mangy  eruptions, 
and  had  now  mange  in  the  feet,  the  inside  of  the  ear  covered  with  scaly 
eruptions,  the  skin  red  underneath,  considerable  thickening  of  the  ear,  and 
a  slight  discharge  from  its  base.  A  seton  was  inserted  and  a  physic-ball 
given  every  second  day.  The  canker  lotion  had  little  good  effect.  Some 
calamine  ointment,  with  a  smalln  portio  of  calomel,  was  then  had  re- 
course to. 

In  ten  days  the  dog  had  ceased  to  scratch  himself  or  shake  his  head,  and 
the  ear  was  clean  and  cool.  The  seton  was  removed  ;  but  the  animal  being 
confined,  a  little  redness  again  appeared  in  the  ear,  which  the  lotion  soon 
removed. 

At  the  expiration  of  a  month  he  was  dismissed  apparently  cured ;  but  he 
afterwards  had  a  return  of  his  old  mangy  complaints,  which  bade  defiance 
to  every  mode  of  treatment. 

Herr  Maassen,  V.  S.,  Wiirtemburg,  has  lately  introduced,  and  with  much 
success,  the  use  of  creosote  for  the  cure  of  canker  in  the  ear. 

M  2 


164  THE  EAR  AND  ITS  DISEASES. 

The  first  experiment  was  on  a  setter  with  canker  in  his  ear.  The  owner 
of  the  dog  had  ordered  it  to  be  hanged,  as  all  remedies  had  failed  in  pro- 
ducing a  cure.  Herr  Maassen  prescribed  creosoti  3ss.  et  spirit,  vini  rec- 
tificat.  sij.  This  mixture  was  applied  once  in  every  day  to  the  diseased 
part.  In  a  few  weeks  the  dog  was  completely  cured,  and  has  since  had  no 
return  of  the  complaint.  In  a  terrier,  and  also  in  three  spaniels,  the 
effect  of  this  application  was  equally  satisfactory.  In  some  cases,  where 
the  disease  showed  itself  in  a  less  degree,  the  creosote  was  dissolved  in 
water,  instead  of  spirit  of  wine.  It  is  always  necessary  to  take  away  the 
collar  while  the  dog  is  under  treatment,  in  order  that  the  flap  of  the  ear 
may  not  be  injured  by  striking  against  it. 

Vegetating  Excrescences  in  the  Ear.  (By  F.  J.  J.  Rigot.) — Produc- 
tions of  this  kind,  which  he  had  the  opportunity  of  observing  only  once, 
are  sometimes  united  in  masses,  and  completely  close  the  auditive  canal. 
The  surface  is  granulated  and  black,  and  there  escapes  from  it  an  unctuous 
fetid  discharge.  On  both  sides  the  animal  is  exceedingly  susceptible  of 
pain,  and  the  excrescences  bleed  if  the  slightest  pressure  is  brought  to 
bear  upon  them. 

He  thought  it  right  to  cut  away  these  excrescences  bodily,  which  he 
found  to  be  composed  of  a  strong  dense  tissue,  permitting  much  blood  to 
escape  through  an  innumerable  quantity  of  vascular  openings.  They 
were  reproduced  with  extreme  promptitude  after  they  had  been  cut  off  or 
cauterized.  Some  of  them  appeared  no  more  after  being  destroyed  by  the 
nitrate  of  mercury. 

Sometimes,  however,  twenty -four  hours  after  a  simple  incision,  riot  fol- 
lowed by  cauterization,  these  productions  acquire  an  almost  incredible 
size.  It  seemed,  in  M.  Rigot's  case,  to  be  impossible  to  conquer  the  evil, 
and  the  patient  was  destroyed. 

Eruptions  in  the  Ear. — A  Newfoundland  dog  had  long  been  subject  to 
mangy  eruptions  on  the  back  and  in  the  feet.  They  had  suddenly  dis- 
appeared, and  the  whole  of  the  inside  of  the  ear  became  covered  with  scaly 
eruptions.  The  skin  was  red  ;  there  was  considerable  thickening  of  the 
ear,  and  a  discharge  from  the  base  of  it.  The  canker-lotion  was  used,  a 
physic-ball  given  every  second  day,  and  a  seton  inserted  in  the  poll  reach- 
ing from  ear  to  ear.  No  apparent  benefit  resulted.  A  little  calamine 
ointment,  to  which  was  added  one-eighth  part  of  mercurial  ointment,  was 
then  tried,  and  considerable  benefit  immediately  experienced.  The  dog 
no  longer  continued  to  scratch  himself  or  to  shake  his  head,  and  the  ear 
became  clean  and  cool.  The  seton  was  removed,  and  nothing  remained 
but  a  little  occasional  redness,  which  the  lotion  very  soon  dispersed. 

The  owner,  however,  became  ultimately  tired  of  all  this  doctoring,  and 
the  animal  was  destroyed. 

A  poodle  had  had  exceedingly  bad  ears  during  several  months.  There 
was  considerable  discharge,  apparently  giving  much  pain.  The  dog  was 
continually  shaking  his  head  and  crying.  A  seton  was  introduced,  the 
canker-lotion  was  resorted  to,  and  alterative  and  purgative  medicines  ex- 
hibited. On  the  29th  of  December  the  discharge  from  the  ear  ceased ; 
but,  owing  to  the  neglect  of  the  servant,  it  soon  broke  out  again,  and  there 
was  not  only  much  excoriation  under  the  ear,  but,  from  the  matting  of  the 
hair,  deep  ulcers  formed  on  either  side,  the  edges  of  the  wound  were  ragged, 
and  the  skin  was  detached  from  the  muscular  parts  beneath.  Probes  were 
introduced  on  each  side,  which  passed  down  the  neck  and  nearly  met. 


CROPPING.  165 

The  smell  was  intolerably  offensive,  and  the  dog  was  reduced  almost  to  a 
skeleton.  I  was,  for  the  second  time,  sent  for  to  see  the  case.  I  imme- 
diately recommended  that  the  animal  should  be  destroyed  ;  but  this  was  not 
permitted.  I  then  ordered  that  it  should  daily  be  carefully  washed,  and 
diluted  tincture  of  myrrh  be  applied  to  the  wounds.  They  showed  no  dis- 
position to  heal,  and  the  dog  gradually  sunk  under  the  continued  discharge 
and  died. 

Violent  Affection  of  the  Ear.  20th  May,  1828.— A  spaniel  screamed 
violently,  even  when  it  was  not  touched,  and  held  its  head  permanently  on 
one  side,  as  if  the  muscles  were  contracted.  The  glands  beneath  the  ear 
were  enlarged,  but  the  bowels  were  regular ;  the  nose  was  not  hot ;  there 
was  no  cough.  A  warm  bath  was  ordered,  with  aperient  medicine. 

On  the  22nd  she  was  no  better.  I  examined  the  case  more  carefully. 
The  left  ear  was  exceedingly  hot  and  tender :  she  would  scarcely  bear  me 
to  touch  it.  I  continued  the  aperient  medicine,  and  ordered  a  warm  lotion 
to  be  applied,  consisting  of  the  liquor  plumbi  acetatis  and  infusion  of  digi- 
talis. She  improved  from  the  first  application  of  it,  and  in  a  few  days  was 
quite  well.  A  fortnight  afterwards  the  pain  returned.  The  lotion  was 
employed,  but  not  with  the  same  success.  A  seton  was  then  applied.  She 
wore  it  only  four  days,  when  the  pain  complete!}  disappeared. 

I  have  an  account  in  my  records  of  the  conduct  of  a  coward,  who, 
coining  from  such  a  breed,  was  not  worthy  of  the  trouble  we  took  with 
him.  He  was  a  Newfoundland  dog,  two  years  old,  with  considerable  en- 
largement, redness,  and  some  discharge  from  both  ears.  He  was  sent  to 
our  hospital  for  treatment.  When  no  one  was  near  him,  he  shook  his  head 
and  scratched  his  ears,  and  howled  dreadfully.  Many  times  in  the  course 
of  the  day  he  cried  as  if  we  were  murdering  him.  We  sent  him  home 
thoroughly  well,  and  glad  we  were  to  get  rid  of  him. 

Cropping  of  the  Ears. — I  had  some  doubt,  whether  I  ought  not  to 
omit  the  mention  of  this  cruel  practice.  Mr.  Elaine  very  properly  says, 
that  "  it  is  one  that  does  not  honour  the  inventor,  for  nature  gives  nothing 
in  vain.  Beauty  and  utility  appear  in  all  when  properly  examined,  but  in 
unequal  degrees.  In  some,  beauty  is  pre-eminent ;  while,  in  others,  utility 
appears  to  have  been  the  principal  consideration.  That  must,  therefore, 
be  a  false  taste,  that  has  taught  us  to  prefer  a  curtailed  organ  to  a  perfect 
one,  without  gaining  any  convenience  by  the  operation."  He  adds,  and  it 
is  my  only  excuse  for  saying  one  word  about  the  matter,  that  "  custom 
being  now  fixed,  directions  are  proper  for  its  performance." 

The  owner  of  the  dog  commences  with  maiming  him  while  a  puppy.  He 
finds  fault  with  the  ears  that  nature  has  given  him,  and  they  are  rounded 
or  cut  into  various  shapes,  according  to  his  whim  or  caprice.  It  is  a 
cruel  operation.  A  great  deal  of  pain  is  inflicted  by  it,  and  it  is  often  a 
long  time  before  the  edge  of  the  wound  will  heal :  a  fortnight  or  three 
weeks  at  least  will  elapse  ere  the  animal  is  free  from  pain. 

It  has  been  pleaded,  and  I  would  be  one  of  the  last  to  oppose  the  plea, 
that  the  ears  of  many  dogs  are  rounded  on  account  of  the  ulcers  which 
attack  and  rend  the  conch  ;  because  animals  with  short  ears  defend  them- 
selves most  readily  from  the  attacks  of  others  ;  because,  in  their  combats 
with  each  other,  they  generally  endeavour  to  lay  hold  of  the  neck  or  the 
ears  ;  and,  therefore,  when  their  ears  are  shortened,  they  have  considerable 
advantage  over  their  adversary.  There  is  some  truth  in  this  plea ;  but, 
otherwise,  the  operation  of  cropping  is  dependent  on  caprice  or  fashion. 


166  THE  EAR  AND  ITS  DISEASES. 

If  the  ears  of  dogs  must  be  cropped,  it  should  not  be  done  too  early. 
Four,  five,  or  six  weeks  should  first  pass  ;  otherwise,  they  will  grow  again, 
and  the  second  cropping  will  not  produce  a  good  appearance. 

The  scissors  are  the  proper  instruments  for  accomplishing  the  removal 
of  the  ear ;  the  tearing  of  the  cartilages  out  by  main  force  is  an  act  of 
cruelty  that  none  but  a  brute  in  human  shape  would  practise ;  and,  if  he 
attempts  it,  it  is  ten  to  one  that  he  does  not  obtain  a  good  crop.  If  the 
conch  is  torn  out,  there  is  nothing  remaining  to  retain  the  skin  round  the 
auricular  opening ;  it  may  be  torn  within  the  auditory  canal,  and  as  that 
is  otherwise  very  extensible  in  the  dog,  it  is  prolonged  above  the  opening, 
which  may  then  probably  be  closed  by  a  cicatrix.  The  animal  will  in 
this  case  always  remain  deaf,  at  least  in  one  ear.  In  the  mean  time,  the 
mucous  membrane  that  lines  the  meatus  auditorius  subsists,  the  secretion 
of  the  wax  continues ;  it  accumulates  and  acquires  an  irritating  quality ; 
the  irritation  which  it  causes  produces  an  augmentation  of  the  secretion, 
and  soon  the  whole  of  the  subcutaneous  passage  becomes  filled,  and  seems 
to  assume  the  form  of  a  cord ;  and  it  finishes  by  the  dog  continuing  to 
worry  himself,  shaking  his  head,  and  becoming  subject  to  fits. 

Mr.  Elaine  very  naturally  observes,  that,  "  it  is  not  a  little  surprising 
that  this  cruel  custom  is  so  frequently,  or  almost  invariably,  practised  on 
pug-dogs,  whose  ears,  if  left  alone  to  nature,  are  particularly  handsome  and 
hang  very  gracefully.  It  is  hardly  to  be  conceived  how  the  pug's  head — 
which  is  not  naturally  beautiful  except  in  the  eye  of  perverted  taste — is 
improved  by  suffering  his  ears  to  remain. 

If  the  cropping  is  to  be  practised,  the  mother  should  have  been  previ- 
ously removed.  It  is  quite  erroneous,  that  her  licking  the  wounded  edges 
will  be  serviceable.  On  the  contrary,  it  only  increases  their  pain,  and 
deprives  the  young  ones  of  the  best  balsam  that  can  be  applied — the  blood 
that  flows  from  their  wounds. 

Polypi  in  the  Ears.  —  Dr.  Mercer,  in  The  Veterinarian,  of  July, 
1844,  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  production  of  polypi  in  the 
meatus  of  the  ear.  He  considers  that  there  are  two  kinds  of  polypi 
— first,  the  soft,  vascular  and  bleeding  polypus,  usually  produced  from 
the  fibro-cartilaginous  structure  of  the  outer  half  of  the  tube;  and, 
secondly,  the  hard  and  cartilaginous  polypus  or  excrescence  produced 
from  the  lining  membrane  of  its  inner  half.  The  first  is  termed  the 
haematoid  polypus,  and  the  other  the  chondromatous.  The  dog  suffer- 
ing under  either  generally  has  a  dull,  heavy,  and  rather  watery  eye.  He 
moans  or  whines  at  intervals.  If  his  master  is  present  he  feels  a  relief  in 
pressing  and  rubbing  his  aching  ear  against  him.  At  other  times  he 
presses  and  rubs  his  ear  against  the  ground,  in  order  to  obtain  a  slight 
relief,  flapping  his  ears  and  shaking  his  head;  the  mouth  being  opened 
and  the  tongue  protruded,  and  the  affected  ear  pointing  to  the  ground. 
Then  comes  a  sudden,  and  often  a  profuse,  discharge  of  fetid  pus.  The 
local  discharge  of  pus  and  blood  becomes  daily  more  and  more  fetid,  and 
the  poor  animal  becomes  an  object  of  disgust. 

In  the  first  variety  of  polypus,  where  it  is  practicable,  the  soft  and  vas- 
cular excrescence  should  be  excised  with  a  pair  of  scissors  or  a  small  knife, 
or  it  may  be  noosed  by  a  ligature  of  silk  or  of  silver  wire,  or  twisted  off 
with  a  pair  of  forceps.  Immediately  after  its  removal,  the  base  of  the 
tumour  should  be  carefully  destroyed  by  the  nitrate  of  silver,  and  this 
should  be  repeated  as  long  as  there  is  any  appearance  of  renewed  growth. 


POLYPUS.  167 

Any  ulcer  or  carious  condition  of  the  meatus  should   be  immediately 
removed. 

In  order  to  protect  the  diseased  parts,  a  soft  cap  should  be  used,  and 
within  the  ear  a  little  cotton  wadding  may  defend  the  ear  from  injury. 

Dr.  Mercer  very  properly  remarks  that,  in  the  second  or  chondroma- 
tous  variety  of  polypus  of  the  meatus,  the  treatment  must  depend  upon 
the  concomitant  circumstances.  If  the  tumour  is  seated  close  to  the 
membrana  tympani,  and  has  a  broad  and  sessile  base,  then  it  cannot  be 
excised  or  noosed  with  any  degree  of  success.  It  must  therefore  be  treated 
by  the  daily  application  of  the  solid  nitrate  of  silver,  applied  exactly  to  its 
surface ;  and,  in  the  intervals  of  application,  the  use  of  any  collyria  may 
be  had  recourse  to.  If  the  substance  of  the  growth  be  firm  and  solid,  and 
possesses  little  sensibility,  then  a  very  speedy  mode  of  getting  rid  of  it  is 
to  divide  its  substance  with  a  small  knife ;  and,  afterwards,  by  applying 
the  solid  nitrate  of  silver,  the  tumour  will  soon  be  sloughed  away. 

The  dog  is  liable  to  polypi  in  the  nasal  cavity,  in  the  anus,  and  in  the 
vagina,  which  it  will  not  be  out  of  place  to  mention  here. 

The  polypi  of  the  nasal  and  of  the  anal  cavities  often  show  themselves 
under  the  form  of  rounded  bodies,  projecting  from  the  nose  or  anus. 
Their  size  and  consistence  are  variable — sometimes  soft,  tearing  with  the 
greatest  facility,  and  bleeding  at  the  slightest  touch ;  at  other  times,  solid 
and  covered  with  pituitary  membrane.  They  are  generally  the  result  of 
ulcerations,  wounds,  fractures,  perforations  of  the  turbinated  bones,  sinuses, 
&c.  These  polypous  productions  obstruct  the  passage  of  the  air,  and  more 
or  less  impede  the  breathing.  They  are  best  extirpated  by  means  of  a 
ligature,  or  circular  compression,  on  the  pedicle  of  the  polypus,  and 
tightened  every  second  day. 

We  may  discover  the  presence  of  a  tumour  of  this  nature  in  one  of  the 
nasal  passages,  when,  on  putting  our  hand  to  the  orifice  of  the  nostril, 
there  issues  little  or  no  air ;  or  when  we  sound  the  nostril  with  the  finger 
or  a  probe,  or  examine  it  on  a  bright  day. 

The  methods  of  destroying  polypi  in  the  nasal  cavity  vary  with  the 
texture,  size,  form,  and  position  of  these  excrescences.  Excision  with 
the  bistoury,  or  with  scissors,  may  be  tried  when  the  polypus  is  near 
the  orifice  of  the  nostril,  and  particularly  when  it  is  not  large  at  the  base. 
Excision  should  be  followed  by  cauterization  with  the  red-hot  iron,  by 
which  a  portion  of  the  base  of  the  tumour  is  destroyed,  and  which  could 
not  be  reached  by  a  sharp  instrument.  To  succeed  in  these  operations,  it 
is  frequently  necessary  to  cut  through  the  false  nostril.  The  edges  of  the 
wound  may  afterwards  be  united  by  a  suture. 

The  ligature,  or  circular  compression,  exercised  immediately  on  the 
pedicle  of  the  polypus,  by  means  of  a  wire  or  waxed  string,  and  directed 
into  the  nasal  cavity  by  means  of  a  proper  instrument,  may  be  tried  when 
the  polypus  is  deeply  situated,  and  particularly  when  its  base  is  narrow. 
But,  for  this  operation,  which  is  difficult  to  perform,  and  which  may  be 
followed  by  a  new  polypous  production,  when  the  base  is  not  perfectly  de- 
stroyed, we  may  substitute  the  forcible  detachment,  especially  when  we 
have  to  act  on  vascular  and  soft  excrescences. 

The  Italian  greyhound  is  strangely  subject  to  these  polypi  in  the  matrix 
or  vagina.  The  reason  it  is  difficult  to  explain. 

A  bitch,  ten  years  old,  was  brought  to  the  author  on  the  20th  Decem- 
ber, 1843,  with  an  oval  substance,  as  large  as  a  thrush's  egg,  occasionally 


168  THE  EAR  AND  ITS  DISEASES. 

protruding  from  the  vagina.  I  advised  that  it  should  be  removed  by 
means  of  a  ligature ;  but  the  owner  was  afraid,  and  a  fortnight  was  suffered 
to  pass  before  she  was  brought  again.  The  tumour  had  rapidly  increased  : 
it  was  as  large  as  a  pigeon's  egg,  considerably  excoriated,  and  the  pedicle 
being  almost  as  large  as  the  tumour  itself.  The  operation  was  now  con- 
sented to.  I  passed  a  ligature  as  firmly  round  the  pedicle  and  as  high 
up  as  I  could.  The  bitch  scarcely  seemed  to  suffer  any  pain.  3rd  Jan. 
— The  circulation  is  evidently  cut  off,  and  the  tumour  is  assuming  a 
thoroughly  black  hue,  but  it  appears  to  cause  no  inconvenience  to  the  dog. 
I  tightened  the  ligature.  4th.  The  tumour  is  now  completely  black, 
considerably  protruded,  and  apparently  destitute  of  feeling.  I  again 
tightened  the  ligature.  5th.  The  tumour  not  appearing  disposed  to  sepa- 
rate, and  the  uterus  seeming  to  be  drawn  back  by  its  weight,  I  cut  off  the 
tumour  close  to  the  ligature.  Not  the  slightest  pain  seemed  to  be  given, 
and  the  tumour  was  hard  and  black.  There  was,  however,  a  very  little 
oozing  of  bloody  fluid,  which  continuing  to  the  8th,  I  injected  a  slight 
solution  of  alum  into  the  vagina,  and  three  days  afterwards  the  discharge 
was  perfectly  stopped. 


THE  ETHMOID  BONES.  169 


CHAPTER  X. 

ANATOMY  OF   THE  NOSE   AND   MOUTH;    AND   DISEASES    OF  THE   NOSE 

AND    OTHER   PARTS    OF  THE  FACE. THE   SENSE    OF   SMELL;    THE 

TONGUE  ;  THE    LIPS  ;   THE  TEETH  ;   THE  LARYNX  ;    BRONCHOCELE  j 
PHLEGMONOUS  TUMOUR. 

The  Ethmoid  Bones. — THERE  is  some  difficulty  in  describing  the  ethmoid 
bones;  but  we  shall  not,  however,  deviate -far  from  the  truth  if  we  give 
the  following  account : 

A  great  number  of  small  hollow  pedicles,  proceed  from  and  form  around 
the  cribriform  plate  ;  as  they  move  downwards,  they  project  into  distinct 
vesicles  or  cavities,  smaller  and  more  numerous  behind,  fewer  in  number 
and  larger  in  front ;  and  each  of  them  not  a  simple  cavity,  but  more  or 
less  convoluted,  while  the  long  walls  of  those  cells  are  of  gossamer  thin- 
ness, and  as  porous  as  gauze.  They  even  communicate,  and  are  lined,  and 
externally  wrapped  together,  by  the  same  membrane ;  the  whole  assuming 
a  pear-like  form,  attached  by  its  base  or  greater  extremity,  and  decreasing 
in  size  as  it  proceeds  downwards ;  the  cells  becoming  fewer,  arid  termi- 
nating at  length  in  a  kind  of  apex,  which  passes  under  the  superior  turbi- 
nated  bone,  and  forms  a  valve  between  the  nasal  cavity  and  the  maxillary 
sinuses.  If  to  this  is  added,  that  the  olfactory  or  first  pair  of  nerves  abut 
on  these  cribriform  plates,  and  pass  through  their  minute  openings,  and 
spread  themselves  over  every  one  of  these,  cells,  we  have  a  tolerably  cor- 
rect picture  of  this  portion  of  the  ethmoid  bones.  This  nerve  has  different 
degrees  of  development  in  different  animals,  in  proportion  to  their  acuteness 
of  smell.  There  is  comparatively  but  little  necessity  for  acuteness  in  the 
horse.  The  ox  has  occasion  for  somewhat  more,  especially  in  the  early 
part  of  the  spring,  when  the  plants  are  young,  and  have  not  acquired  their 
peculiar  scent.  In  the  sheep  it  is  larger,  and  fills  the  superior  portion  of 
the  nasal  cavity ;  but  in  the  dog  it  seems  to  occupy  that  cavity  almost  to 
the  exclusion  of  the  turbinated  bones.  It  is  also  much  more  fragile  in 
the  dog  than  in  the  ox,  and  the  plates  have  a  considerably  thinner 
structure. 

The  ethmoid  bone  of  the  horse  or  the  ox  may  be  removed  from  its 
situation  with  little  injury ;  but  that  of  the  dog  can  scarcely  be  meddled 
with  without  fracture.  Below  it  are  the  two  turbinated  bones  ;  but  they 
are  reduced  to  insignificance  by  the  bulk  of  the  ethmoid  bone.  The  in- 
ferior turbinated  bone  in  the  dog  is  very  small,  but  it  is  curiously  com- 
plicated. 

The  meatus  contains  three  distinct  channels  ;  and  the  air,  loitering,  as  it 
were,  in  it,  and  being  longer  in  contact  with  the  sensitive  membrane  by 
which  it  is  lined,  contributes  to  the  acuter  sense  of  smell.  The  larger 
cavity  is  along  the  floor  of  the  nasal  duct.  It  is  the  proper  air-passage  ; 
and  because  it  has  this  important  function  to  discharge,  it  is  out  of  the  way 
of  violence  or  injury.  # 


170  THE  NASAL  BONES. 

The  lachrymal  duct  is  the  channel  through  which  the  superfluous  tears 
are  conveyed  to  the  lower  parts  of  the  nostril.  A  long  canal  here  com- 
mences, and  runs  down  and  along  the  maxillary  bone.  It  is  very  small, 
and  terminates  in  the  cuticle,  in  order  that  the  highly  sensitive  membrane 
of  the  nose  may  not  be  excoriated  by  the  tears  occasionally  rendered  acri- 
monious in  inflammation  of  the  eye.  The  oval  termination  of  this  duct  is 
easily  brought  into  view  by  lifting  the  nostril. 

From  some  occasional  acrimony  of  the  tears,  the  lining  of  this  duct 
may  be  inflamed  and  thickened,  or  some  foreign  body,  or  some  unctuous 
matter  from  the  ciliary  glands,  may  insinuate  itself  into  the  duct,  and  the 
fluid  accumulates  in  the  sac  and  distends  it,  and  it  bursts ;  or  the  ulcer 
eats  through  the  integument,  and  there  is  a  small  fistulous  opening  beneath 
the  inner  canthus  of  the  eye,  or  there  is  a  constant  discharge  from  it.  It 
is  this  constant  discharge  that  prevents  the  wound  from  healing.  In  some 
cases  the  lachrymal  bone  is  involved  in  the  ulcerative  process  and  becomes 
carious.  In  the  dog,  and  particularly  in  the  smaller  spaniel,  the  watery 
eye,  fistula  lacrymalis,\s  of  no  unusual  occurrence.  The  fistula  will  be 
recognised  by  a  constant,  although  perhaps  slight,  discharge  of  pus. 

The  structure  and  office  of  the  velum  palati,  or  veil  of  the  palate,  is  in 
the  horse  a  perfect  interposed  section  between  the  cavity  of  the  mouth  and 
the  nose,  and  cutting  off  all  communication  between  them.  In  the  dog, 
who  breathes  almost  entirely  through  the  mouth,  the  velum  palati  is 
smaller ;  the  tensor  muscle,  so  beautifully  described  by  Mr.  Percivall,  is 
weak,  but  the  circumflex  one  is  stronger  and  more  developed.  When 
coryza  in  the  dog  runs  on  to  catarrh,  and  the  membrane  of  the  pharynx 
partakes  of  the  inflammation,  the  velum  palati  becomes  inflamed  and 
thickened,  but  will  not  act  as  a  perfect  communication  between  the  mouth 
and  the  nose.  When  there  is  a  defluxion  from  the  nose,  tinged  by  the 
colour  of  the  food,  and  particles  of  food  mingle  with  it,  we  have  one  of 
the  worst  symptoms  that  can  present  itself,  because  it  proves  the  extent  and 
violence  of  the  inflammation. 

In  inflammatory  affections  of  the  membrane  of  the  nose  in  the  dog,  we 
often  observe  him  snorting  in  a  very  peculiar  way,  with  his  head  protrud- 
ing, and  the  inspiration  as  forcible  as  the  expiration.  An  emetic  will 
usually  afford  relief,  or  grain  doses  of  the  sulphate  of  copper. 

The  Nasal  Bones. — The  nasal  bones  of  the  dog  (see  fig.  2,  in  the 
head  of  the  dog,  page  116)  are  very  small,  as  they  are  in  all  carnivorous 
animals.  Instead  of  constituting  the  roof,  and  part  of  the  outer  wall 
of  the  cavity,  as  in  other  animals,  the  nasal  bones  form  only  a  portion, 
and  a  small  one,  of  the  roof. 

The  superior  maxillaries  here  swell  into  importance,  and  constitute 
the  whole  of  the  outer  wall,  and,  sometimes,  a  part  of  the  roof.  The  jaws 
are  the  weapons  of  offence  and  defence ;  and  as  much  space  as  possible  is 
devoted  to  the  insertion  of  those  muscles  that  will  enable  the  animal  to 
seize  and  to  hold  his  prey.  One  of  the  most  powerful  of  them,  the 
masseter,  rises  from  the  superior  maxillary  bone,  and  spreads  over  its 
whole  extent :  therefore,  that  bone  is  developed,  while  the  nasal  bone  is 
compressed  into  a  very  small  space.  The  substitution  of  a  portion  of 
cartilage,  instead  of  bone,  at  the  posterior  part  of  the  orbital  ring,  in  order 
to  give  more  play  for  the  coracoid  process  of  the  posterior  maxillary,  round 
which  the  temporal  bone  is  wrapped,  is  a  contrivance  of  the  same  nature. 

The  scent  of  the  dog  is  not  sacrificed  or  impaired  by  the  apparent  diminu- 


THE  NASAL  BONES.  171 

tion  of  the  nasals ;  for  the  cavity  enlarges  considerably  upward,  and  is 
occupied  chiefly  by  the  ethmoid  bone,  which,  having  the  greater  portion 
of  nervous  pulp  spread  on  it,  seems  to  have  most  to  do  with  the  sense  of 
smell. 

The  nasal  bones  of  the  dog  are  essentially  different  from  those  of  the 
horse,  cattle,  and  sheep.  They  commence,  indeed,  as  high  up  in  the  face 
as  those  of  the  horse,  their  superior  extremities  being  opposite  to  the 
lachrymal  gland ;  but  that  commencement  is  an  apex  or  point  varying 
materially  in  different  breeds.  They  form,  altogether,  one  sharp  projection, 
and  are  received  within  lengthened  processes  of  the  frontal  bone  on  either 
side.  In  some  breeds  these  processes  extend  nearly  one-third  of  the  length 
of  the  nasals. 

The  superior  maxillary  (3.3.)  takes  the  situation  of  the  nasal  (2.), 
pushes  the  lachrymal  bone  (4.)  out  of  its  place,  and  almost  annihilates  it, 
reaches  the  frontal  bone  (7.)  and  expands  upon  it,  and  forms  with  it  the 
same  denticulated  suture  which  is  to  be  seen  in  the  nasal.  The  action  of 
the  muscle  between  these  bones,  and  for  the  development  of  which  all  this 
sacrifice  is  made,  is  exceedingly  powerful.  The  strength  of  this  muscle 
in  a  large  dog  is  almost  incredible :  the  sutures  between  these  bones  must 
possess  corresponding  strength  ;  and  so  strong  is  the  union  between  them, 
that,  in  many  old  dogs,  the  suture  between  the  superior  maxillary  and  frontal 
bones  is  nearly  obliterated,  and  that  between  the  nasal  and  frontal  maxil- 
lary quite  effaced. 

As  the  nasal  bones  proceed  downward  they  become  somewhat  wider. 
They  unite  with  a  long  process  of  the  anterior  maxillary  for  the  purpose 
of  strength,  and  then  terminate  in  a  singular  way.  They  have  their 
apexes  or  points  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  bone ;  and  these  apexes  or 
points  are  so  contrived,  that,  lying  upon,  and  seemingly  losing  them- 
selves, on  the  processes  of  the  anterior  maxillary,  they  complete,  supe- 
riorly and  posteriorly,  that  elliptical  bony  opening  into  the  nose  which 
was  commenced  by  the  maxillary  anteriorly  and  inferiorly.  The  nasal 
cavity  of  the  dog,  therefore,  and  of  all  carnivorous  animals,  terminates  by 
a  somewhat  circular  opening,  more  or  less  in  the  form  of  an  ellipse. 
This  bony  aperture  varies  in  size  in  different  dogs,  and,  as  we  should  ex- 
pect from  what  we  have  seen  of  the  adaptation  of  structure  to  the  situation 
and  wants  of  the  animal,  it  is  largest  in  those  on  whom  we  are  most  depen- 
dent for  speed  and  stoutness. 

The  olfactory,  or  first  pair  of  nerves,  have  a  double  origin,  namely, 
from  the  corpus  striatum  and  the  base  of  the  corpus  callosum.  They  are 
prolongations  of  the  medullary  substance  of  the  central  portion  of  the 
brain.  They  are  the  largest  of  the  cerebral  nerves.  Their  course  is 
exceedingly  short ;  and  they  have  not  a  single  anastomosis,  in  order  that 
the  impression  made  on  them  may  be  conveyed  undisturbed  and  perfect  to 
the  brain. 

The  olfactory  nerve  is  a  prolongation  of  the  substance  of  the  brain,  and 
it  abuts  upon  the  cribriform  bone,  of  which  mention  has  been  made.  I 
will  not  speak  of  the  singular  cavities  which  it  contains,  nor  of  their 
function ;  this  belongs  to  the  sensorial  system :  but  its  pulpy  matter  has 
already  been  traced  to  the  base  of  the  ethmoid  bone,  and  the  under  part 
of  the  septum,  and  the  superior  turbinated  bone.  Although  we  soon  lose 
it  in  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  nose,  there  is  little  doubt  that  in  a  more 
filmy  form  it  is  spread  over  the  whole  of  the  cavity,  and  probably  over  all 


172  THE  SENSE  OF  SMELL. 

the  sinuses  of  the  face  and  head.  It  is,  however,  so  mingled  with  the 
mucous  membrane,  that  no  power  of  the  lens  has  enabled  us  to  follow  it 
so  far.  It  is  like  the  portio  mollis  of  the  seventh  pair,  eluding  the  eye, 
but  existing  in  sufficient  substance  for  the  performance  of  its  important 
functions. 

We  have  frequent  cases  of  ozcena  in  old  dogs,  and  sometimes  in  those 
that  are  younger.  The  discharge  from  the  nostril  is  abundant  and  con- 
stant, and  sometimes  fetid.  The  Schneiderian  membrane,  of  more  than 
usual  sensibility  in  this  animal,  is  exposed  to  many  causes  of  irritation, 
and  debilitated  and  worn  out  before  its  time.  Pugs  are  particularly  sub- 
ject to  ozaena.  I  scarcely  ever  knew  a  very  old  pug  that  had  it  not  to  a 
greater  or  less  degree.  The  peculiar  depression  between  the  nasal  and 
frontal  bones  in  this  breed  of  dogs,  while  it  almost  totally  obliterates  the 
frontal  sinuses,  may  narrow  the  air-passage  at  that  spot,  and  cause  greater 
irritation  there  from  the  unusual  rush  of  the  air,  and  especially  if  the 
membrane  becomes  inflamed  or  any  foreign  body  insinuates  itself. 

Little  can  be  done  in  these  cases,  except  to  encourage  cleanliness  about 
the  face  and  nostrils.  It  is,  in  the  majority  of  these  cases,  a  disease  of  old 
age,  and  must  take  its  course. 

A  terrier  uttered  a  continual  loud  stertorous  sound  in  breathing,  which 
could  be  plainly  heard  in  our  parlour  when  the  dog  was  in  the  hospital. 
The  animal  was  evidently  much  oppressed  and  in  considerable  pain.  He 
made  continual,  and  generally  ineffectual,  efforts  to  sneeze.  When  he  did 
succeed,  a  very  small  quantity  of  pus-like  fluid  was  discharged ;  the  dog 
was  then  considerably  relieved,  but  a  quarter  of  an  hour  afterwards  he 
was  as  bad  as  ever.  I  ordered  a  slight  emetic  every  third  day.  There 
was  some  relief  for  seven  or  eight  hours,  and  then  he  was  as  bad  as  ever. 
I  could  neither  feel  nor  see  any  cause  of  obstruction.  The  owner  became 
tired,  and  the  dog  was  taken  away  ;  but  we  could  not  learn  what  became 
of  it. 

Another  terrier  was  occasionally  brought  for  consultation.  The  dog 
breathed  with  considerable  difficulty,  and  occasionally  snorted  with  the 
greatest  violence,  and  bloody  purulent  matter  was  discharged  ;  after  which 
he  was  somewhat  relieved  ;  but,  in  the  course  of  a  few  days,  the  obstruction 
was  as  great  as  ever.  I  am  not  aware  of  a  single  instance  of  this  affection 
of  the  pug  being  completely  removed.  The  discharge  from  the  nostrils 
of  the  bull-dog  is  often  considerable,  and,  once  being  thoroughly  established, 
is  almost  as  obstinate  as  in  the  pug. 

'THE  SENSE  OF  SMELL. 

In  the  dog  we  trace  the  triumph  of  olfactory  power.  How  indistinct 
must  be  that  scent  which  is  communicated  to,  and  lingers  on,  the  ground 
by  the  momentary  contact  of  the  foot  of  the  hare,  the  fox,  or  the  deer ; 
yet  the  hound,  of  various  breeds,  recognises  it  for  hours,  and  some  sports- 
men have  said  for  more  than  a  day.  He  also  can  not  only  distinguish 
the  scent  of  one  species  of  animal  from  another,  but  that  of  different 
animals  of  the  same  species.  The  fox-hound,  well  broken-in,  will  rarely 
challenge  at  the  scent  of  the  hare,  nor  will  he  be  imposed  upon  when  the 
crafty  animal  that  he  pursues  has  taken  refuge  in  the  earth,  and  thrusts 
out  a  new  victim  before  the  pack. 

The  sense  of  smelling  is,  to  a  certain  degree,  acute  in  all  dogs.     It  is 


THE  SENSE  OF  SMELL.  173 

a  provision  wisely  and  kindly  made,  in  order  to  guide  them  to  their  pro- 
per food,  or  to  fit  them  for  our  service.  It  may  possibly  be  the  medium 
through  which  much  evil  is  communicated.  Certain  particles  of  a  delete- 
rious nature  may  be,  and  doubtless  are,  arrested  by  the  mucous  membrane 
of  the  nose,  and  there  absorbed,  and  the  constitution,  to  a  considerable 
degree,  becomes  affected.  Hence  appears  the  necessity  for  attention  to 
ventilation,  and  especially  to  prevent  the  membrane  of  the  nose  from 
being  habitually  stimulated  and  debilitated  by  the  effluvia  generated  in  a 
close  and  hot  kennel. 

M.  Majendie  instituted  some  curious  experiments  on  the  sense  of  smell- 
ing, and  he  was  led  to  believe  that  it  depended  more  on  the  fifth  pair  of 
nerves  than  on  the  olfactory  nerve.  He  divided  the  fifth  pair,  and  from 
that  moment  no  odour,  no  puncture,  produced  the  slightest  apparent  im- 
pression on  the  membrane  of  the  nose.  In  another  dog  he  destroyed  the 
two  olfactory  nerves,  and  placed  some  strong  odours  beneath  the  nostrils 
of  the  animal.  The  dog  conducted  himself  as  he  would  have  done  in  his 
ordinary  state.  Hence  he  concluded  it  probable  that  the  olfactory  nerve 
was  not  that  of  smelling. 

The  simple  fact,  however,  is,  that  there  are  two  species  of  nerves  here 
concerned — those  of  common  and  of  peculiar  sensation.  The  olfactory 
nerve  is  the  nerve  of  smelling,  the  fifth  pair  is  that  of  common  sensation. 
They  are  to  a  certain  degree  necessary  to  each  other. 

Scent. — This  leads  us  to  the  consideration  of  the  term  "  scent."  It 
expresses  the  odour  or  effluvium  which  is  constantly  issuing  from  every 
animal,  and  especially  when  that  animal  is  in  more  than  usual  exercise. 
In  a  state  of  heat  or  excitement,  the  pores  of  the  skin  appear  relaxed,  and 
a  fluid  or  aqueous  vapour  is  secreted,  which  escapes  in  small  or  large 
quantities,  adheres  to  the  persons  or  substances  on  which  it  falls,  and  is, 
particularly,  received  on  the  olfactory  organs.  The  hound,  at  almost  the 
earliest  period,  begins  to  comprehend  the  work  which  he  has  to  perform. 
The  peculiar  scent  which  his  nostrils  imbibe  urges  him  eagerly  to  pursue ; 
but  the  moment  he  ceases  to  be  conscious  of  the  presence  of  the  effluvium, 
he  is  at  a  perfect  loss. 

Mr.  Daniel,  in  his  work  on  the  Chace,  very  properly  observes,  that 
"  the  scent  most  favourable  to  the  hound  is  when  the  effluvium,  constantly 
perspired  from  the  game  as  it  runs,  is  kept  by  the  gravity  of  the  air  at 
the  height  of  his  breast.  It  is  then  neither  above  his  reach  nor  does  he 
need  to  stoop  for  it.  This  is  what  is  meant  when  the  scent  is  said  to  be 
breast-high." 

When  the  leaves  begin  to  fall,  the  scent  does  not  lie  well  in  the  cover. 
It  frequently  alters  materially  in  the  same  day.  This  depends  principally 
on  the  condition  of  the  ground  and  the  temperature  of  the  air,  which 
should  be  moist  but  not  wet.  When  the  ground  is  hard  and  the  air  dry, 
there  will  seldom  be  much  scent.  The  scent  rarely  lies  with  a  north  or 
east  wind.  A  southerly  wind  without  rain  is  the  best.  Sudden  storms 
are  sure  to  destroy  the  scent.  A  fine  sunshiny  day  is  not  good ;  but  a 
warm  day  without  sun  is  always  a  good  one.  If,  as  the  morning  advances, 
the  drops  begin  to  hang  on  the  bushes,  the  scent  will  not  lie.  During  a 
white  frost  the  scent  lies  high,  and  also  when  the  frost  is  quite  gone  ; 
but  at  the  time  of  its  going  off  the  scent  never  lies.  In  a  hard  rain,  if 
the  air  is  mild,  the  scent  will  sometimes  be  very  good.  A  wet  night 
often  produces  the  best  chaces.  In  heathy  countries,  where  the  game 


174  THE  SENSE  OF  SMELL. 

brushes  the  grass  or  the  boughs  as  it  goes  along,  the  scent  seldom  fails. 
It  lies  best  on  the  richest  soils ;  but  the  countries  that  are  favourable 
to  horses  are  not  always  so  to  hounds.  The  morning  usually  affords  the 
best  scent,  and  the  game  is  then  least  able  to  escape.  The  want  of  rest, 
added  perhaps  to  a  full  belly,  gives  the  hounds  a  decided  superiority  over 
an  early-found  fox  ;  and  the  condition  of  the  ground  and  the  temperature 
of  the  air  are  circumstances  of  much  importance. 

Such  are  the  results  of  the  best  observations  on  scent ;  but,  after  all,  we 
have  much  to  learn  concerning  it.  Many  a  day  that  predicated  to  be  a 
good  one  for  scent  has  turned  out  a  very  bad  one,  and  vice  versa.  An 
old  or  experienced  sportsman,  knowing  this,  will  never  presume  to  make 
sure  of  his  scent. 

We  shall  be  forgiven  if  we  pursue  this  subject  a  little  at  length. 

There  is  not  only  a  constant  appropriation  of  new  matter  to  repair  the 
losses  that  animals  are  continually  sustaining,  but  there  is  a  constant  elabo- 
ration of  gaseous  or  fluid  matter  maintaining  the  balance  of  the  different 
systems,  and  essential  to  the  continuance  of  life.  This  effluvium,  as  the 
animal  moves  from  place  to  place,  is  attracted  and  detained  for  a  while 
by  the  substances  with  which  it  comes  into  contact,  or  it  remains  floating 
in  the  atmosphere.  There  is  a  peculiar  smell  or  scent  belonging  to  each 
individual,  either  generally  or  under  peculiar  circumstances. 

The  sportsman  takes  advantage  of  this ;  and,  as  most  species  of  dogs 
possess  great  acuteness  of  olfactory  power,  they  can  distinguish,  or  are 
readily  taught  to  distinguish,  not  only  the  scent  of  the  hare  from  that  of 
the  fox,  but  that  of  the  hare  or  fox  which  they  are  pursuing  from  that  of 
half  a  dozen  others  that  may  be  started  during  the  chace. 

The  dogs  that  are  selected  for  this  purpose  are  those  the  conformation 
of  whose  face  and  head  gives  ample  room  for  the  development  of  the 
olfactory  apparatus,  and  these  are  the  different  species  of  hounds ;  but  a 
systematic  education,  and  too  often  a  great  deal  of  unnecessary  cruelty,  is 
resorted  to,  in  order  to  make  them  perfect  in  their  work.  The  distinction 
between  the  scent  of  the  fox  and  that  of  the  hare  is  soon  learned  by  the 
respective  packs ;  and,  when  it  is  considered  that  the  hunted  hare  is  per- 
spiring at  every  pore,  and  her  strength  being  almost  exhausted,  she  is 
straining  every  limb  to  escape  from  her  pursuers,  the  increasing  quantity 
of  vapour  which  exudes  from  her  will  prevent  every  other  newly  started 
animal  from  being  mistaken  for  her. 

It  has  been  well  observed  that  when  the  atmosphere  is  loaded  with 
moisture,  and  rain  is  at  hand,  the  gas  is  speedily  dissolved  and  mingles 
with  the  surrounding  air.  A  storm  dissipates  it  at  once,  while  the  cessa- 
tion of  the  rain  is  preceded  by  the  return  and  increased  power  of  scent. 
A  cold,  dry  easterly  wind  condenses  and  absorbs  it,  and  this  is  even 
more  speedily  and  irretrievably  done  by  superabundant  moisture.  On 
fallows  and  beaten  roads  the  scent  rarely  lies  well,  for  there  is  nothing 
to  detain  it,  and  it  is  swept  away  in  a  moment ;  while  over  a  luxuriant 
pasture,  or  by  the  hedge-row,  or  on  the  coppice,  it  lingers,  clinging  to  the 
grass  or  the  bushes.  In  a  sunshiny  day  the  scent  is  seldom  strong ;  for 
too  much  of  it  is  evaporated  by  the  heat.  The  most  favourable  period  is 
a  soft  southerly  wind  without  rain,  the  scent  being  of  the  same  temperature 
and  gravity  with  the  atmosphere.  Although  it  spreads  over  the  level,  it 
rises  not  far  above  the  ground,  and,  being  breast  high,  enables  the  hound, 
keeping  his  muzzle  in  the  midst  of  it,  to  run  at  his  greatest  speed.  The 


.THE  TONGUE.  175 

different  manners  or  attitudes  in  which  the  dog  runs  afford  pleasing-  and 
satisfactory  illustrations  of  the  nature  of  the  scent.  Sometimes  they  will 
be  seen  galloping  with  their  noses  in  the  air,  as  if  their  game  had  flown 
away,  and,  an  hour  or  two  afterwards,  every  one  of  them  will  have  his 
muzzle  on  the  ground.  The  specific  gravity  of  the  atmosphere  has  changed, 
and  the  scent  has  risen  or  fallen  in  proportion. 

A  westerly  wind  stands  next  to  a  southerly  one,  for  a  hunting  morning. 
This  is  all  simple  enough,  and  needs  not  the  mystification  with  which  it 
has  been  surrounded.  A  valuable  account  of  this  may  be  found  in  John- 
son's Shooting  Companion,  a  work  that  is  justly  and  highly  approved. 

Mr.  Delm^  Radcliffe  has  also,  in  his  splendid  work  on  "  the  noble 
science,"  some  interesting  remarks  on  the  scent  of  hounds.  He  says  that 
there  is  an  idiosyncracy,  a  peculiarity,  in  their  several  dispositions.  Some 
young  hounds  seem  to  enter  on  their  work  instinctively.  From  their  first 
to  their  last  appearance  in  the  field  they  do  no  wrong.  Others,  equally 
good,  will  take  no  notice  of  anything ;  they  will  not  stoop  to  any  scent 
during  the  first  season,  and  are  still  slack  at  entering  even  at  the  second ; 
but  are  ultimately  distinguished  at  the  head  of  the  pack  ;  and  such  usually 
last  some  seasons  longer  than  the  more  precocious  of  the  same  litter. 

THE  TONGUE. 

The  manner  of  drinking  is  different  in  the  different  animals.  The  horse, 
the  ox,  and  the  sheep  do  not  plunge  their  muzzles  into  the  water,  but 
bring  their  lips  into  contact  with  it  and  sip  it  gradually.  The  dog, 
whose  tongue  is  longer,  plunges  it  a  little  way  into  the  fluid,  and,  curving 
its  tip  and  its  edges,  laps,  in  the  language  of  Johnson,  with  a  "  quick 
reciprocation  of  the  tongue."  The  horse  sucks  the  water  that  is  placed 
before  him,  the  dog  laps  it ;  and  both  of  them  are  subject  to  inflamma- 
tion of  the  tongue,  to  enlargement  of  that  organ,  and  to  a  considerable  or 
constant  flow  of  saliva  over  it. 

Extending  from  the  base  to  the  tip  of  the  tongue  there  is  on  either  side 
a  succession  of  tendons,  which  help  to  retain  the  tongue  in  the  mouth,  and 
to  curve  the  edge  of  it,  so  as  to  convey  the  food  or  the  water  to  the 
posterior  part  of  the  mouth.  These  all  spring  from  one  central  cord,  and 
ramify  over  the  membrane  of  the  tongue.  On  opening  the  mouth,  and 
keeping  it  open  by  means  of  two  pieces  of  tape,  one  behind  the  upper 
canine  teeth,  and  the  other  behind  the  lower  ones,  and  drawing  the  tongue 
from  the  mouth  and  exposing  its  under  surface,  a  cuticular  fold  or  ridge 
will  present  itself,  occupying  a  middle  line  from  the  base  of  the  tongue  to 
its  very  point.  If  this  is  opened  with  a  lancet,  a  minute  fibrous  cord  will 
be  exposed  through  its  whole  extent.  It  is  the  cord  which  governs  the 
motions  of  the  tongue. 

This  cord  is,  sometimes,  foolishly  and  uselessly  detached  from  its 
adhesions,  so  far  as  we  can  effect  it,  and  drawn  forward  with  a  tenaculum 
and  divided.  There  is  one  abominable  course  pursued  in  effecting  this. 
The  violence  used  in  stripping  down  the  tendon  is  so  great,  and  the 
lacerated  fibrous  substance  is  put  so  much  on  the  stress,  and  its  natural 
elasticity  is  so  considerable,  that  it  recoils  and  assumes  the  appearance  of 
a  dying  worm,  and  the  dog  is  said  to  have  been  wormed.  For  the  sake 
of  humanity,  as  well  as  to  avoid  the  charge  of  ignorance,  it  is  to  be  hoped 
that  this  practice  will  speedily  cease. 


176  BLAIN. 

The  Blain. — The  blain  is  a  vesicular  enlargement  on  the  lateral  and 
under  part  of  the  tongue  in  horses,  oxen,  and  dogs,  which,  although  not  of 
unfrequent  occurrence,  or  peculiarly  fatal  result,  has  not  been  sufficiently 
noticed  by  veterinary  authors.  In  the  horse  and  the  dog  it  is  often  unac- 
companied by  any  previous  indisposition,  or  by  other  disease ;  but  sud- 
denly there  is  a  copious  discharge  of  saliva,  at  first  limpid  and  without 
smell,  but  soon  becoming  purulent,  bloody,  and  exceedingly  fetid.  On 
examination,  the  tongue  is  found  apparently  enlarged.  It  is  elevated  from 
its  base  between  the  maxillary  bones,  and  on  the  side  and  towards  the  base 
of  it  are  seen  large  vesicles,  pellucid,  red,  livid,  or  purple ;  and,  if  the  dis- 
charge is  fetid,  having  near  their  bases  ulcers,  irregular,  unhealthy,  and 
gangrenous. 

In  the  horse  and  the  dog  the  progress  of  the  disease  is  slow,  and  seldom 
extends  beyond  the  sides  of  the  tongue.  The  vesicles  are  not  of  such 
magnitude  as  to  interfere  with  respiration,  and  the  ulcers  are  neither  many 
nor  foul. 

In  cattle  it  is  sadly  different.  The  vesicles  attain  an  enormous  size. 
They  quickly  break  and  form  deep  ulcerations,  which  are  immediately 
succeeded  by  other  vesicles  still  larger.  The  whole  membrane  of  the 
mouth  becomes  affected  ;  the  inflammation  and  swelling  extend  to  the  cel- 
lular substance  of  the  neighbouring  parts,  and  the  head  and  neck  are  con- 
siderably, and  sometimes  enormously,  enlarged ;  the  respiratory  passages 
are  obstructed ;  the  animal  breathes  with  the  greatest  difficulty,  and  is,  in 
some  cases,  literally  suffocated. 

The  primary  seat  of  blain,  is  the  cellular  substance  beneath  the  integu- 
ment of  the  part.  As  the  sublingual  glands  stretch  along  the  under 
part  of  the  tongue,  and  their  ducts  open  on  the  side  of  the  fraenum,  it  is 
possible  that  this  disease  may  proceed  from,  or  be  connected  with,  obstruc- 
tion or  inflammation  of  these  ducts.  Dissection,  however,  has  not  proved 
this  ;  and  the  seat  of  the  disease,  when  the  swellings  are  first  discovered,  is 
chiefly  the  cellular  tissue  between  the  integument  and  the  lateral  parts  of 
the  tongue,  and  also  that  between  the  membrane  of  the  mouth  and  the 
sublingual  glands. 

Post-mortem  examination  shows  intense  disease :  the  small  intestines 
are  highly  inflamed  with  red  and  black  patches,  which  are  also  found  in 
the  ccecum,  colon,  and  rectum. 

The  blain  is  more  frequent  in  spring  and  summer  than  at  other  sea- 
sons of  the  year.  These  are  the  times  when  the  animal  is  debilitated  by 
the  process  of  moulting,  and  is  then  more  than  usually  disposed  to  inflam- 
matory complaints.  It  is  usually  an  epidemic  disease.  Many  cases  of  it 
occur  about  the  same  time  in  certain  districts,  and  over  a  great  extent  of 
country.  When  it  appears  in  towns,  the  country  is  rarely  exempt  from 
it.  I  am  not  prepared  to  say  that  it  is  contagious  either  in  the  horse  or 
the  dog.  I  have  not  seen  any  instance  of  it.  At  all  events,  it  is  not  so 
virulent  in  these  animals  as  it  is  in  cattle. 

The  vesicles  should  be  freely  lanced  from  end  to  end.  There  will  not, 
perhaps,  be  much  immediate  discharge  ;  for  the  vesicle  will  be  distended  by 
a  substance  imperfectly  organised,  or  of  such  a  glassy  or  inspissated  nature 
as  not  readily  to  escape.  It  will,  however,  soon  disappear  ;  and  in  four-and- 
twenty  hours,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  the  only  vestige  of  the  disease  will 
be  an  incision,  not,  perhaps,  looking  very  healthy,  but  that  will  soon  be- 
come so  and  heal.  If  there  have  been  any  previous  ulcerations,  or  the 


THE  LIPS — THE  TEETH.  177 

slightest  fetor,  the  month  should  be  frequently  washed  with  a  diluted 
solution  of  the  chloride  of  lime ;  one  part  of  the  saturated  solution,  and 
eleven  of  water.  This  will  act  as  a  powerful  and  useful  stimulus  to  the 
foul  and  indolent  ulcer.  When  all  unpleasant  smell  is  removed,  the 
mouth  should  be  bathed  with  a  lotion  composed  of  equal  parts  of  tincture 
of  myrrh  and  water,  or  half  an  ounce  of  alum  dissolved  in  a  quart  of  water 
and  two  ounces  of  the  tincture  of  catechu  added  to  the  solution.  I  do 
not  recollect  a  case  in  the  horse  or  dog,  in  which  these  medicines  were 
not  employed  with  advantage.  In  cattle,  before  there  has  been  fetor  at- 
tending the  discharge,  or  the  constitution  has  been  materially  affected,  these 
simple  means  will  perfectly  succeed. 

If  the  practitioner  is  consulted  somewhat  too  late,  when  the  constitution 
has  become  affected,  and  typhoid  fever  has  ensued,  he  should  still  lance 
the  tumours,  and  apply  the  chloride  of  lime  and  the  tincture  of  myrrh, 
and  give  a  gentle  aperient.  He  should  endeavour  to  rouse  and  support 
the  system  by  tonic  medicines,  as  gentian  and  calumba  with  ginger,  adding 
to  two  drachms  of  the  first  two,  and  one  drachm  of  the  last,  half  an  ounce 
of  nitre  ;  but  he  should  place  most  dependence  on  nourishing  food.  Until 
the  mouth  is  tolerably  sound,  it  is  probable  that  the  animal  will  not  be 
induced  to  eat ;  but  it  will  occasionally  sip  a  little  fluid,  and,  therefore, 
gruel  should  be  always  within  its  reach.  More  should  occasionally  be 
given,  as  thick  as  it  will  flow,  with  a  spoon  or  small  horn. 


THE    LIPS 

of  the  dog  discharge,  with  somewhat  less  efficiency,  the  same  office  as  in 
the  horse,  cattle,  and  sheep ;  and  are  usefully  employed  in  gathering  to- 
gether the  food,  and  conveying  it  to  the  mouth.  The  lips  also  secrete  the 
saliva,  a  fluid  that  is  indispensably  necessary  for  the  proper  comminution 
of  the  food. 

Swellings  on  the  inside  of  the  cheek  or  upper  lip,  and  extending  nearly 
to  the  angle  of  the  lip,  are  of  frequent  occurrence.  A  superficial  sore 
spreads  over  it,  slightly  covered  by  a  yellowish,  mattery  pellicle ;  and  on 
the  teeth,  and  extending  down  the  gums,  there  is  a  deposition  of  hardened 
tartarous  matter,  which  is  scaled  off  with  a  greater  or  less  degree  of  diffi- 
culty. It  must  be  removed,  or  the  sore  will  rapidly  spread  over  the  cheek. 
A  lotion  of  equal  parts  of  tincture  of  myrrh  and  water,  with  a  few  drops 
of  the  tincture  of  cantharides,  will  be  usually  sufficient  to  cause  the  swel- 
ling to  subside,  and  the  pellicle  to  be  detached.  The  lip,  however,  will 
generally  remain  slightly  thickened.  A  little  soreness  will  sometimes  re- 
turn, but  be  easily  reduced. 

THE  TEETH 

next  claim  attention. 

According  to  the  dentition  of  the  dog  by  M.  Girard  and  Linnaeus, 
the  following  is  the  acknowledged  formula  : — 

6  1—1  6—6 

Incisors,  —  ;  Canines,  — ;  Molars,  — ,  =42. 

The  following  cuts  exhibit  the  front  teeth  of  the  dog  in  various  stages 
of  growth  and  decay  : 

N 


178  THE  TEETH. 

Fig.  1.  Fig.  2. 


Fig.  3. 


Fig.  4. 


Fig.  5. 


Fig.  6. 


THE  TEETH. 
Fig.  7. 


179 


The  full-grown  dog  has  usually  20  teeth  in  the  upper,  and  22  in  the 
lower  jaw,  with  two  small  supernumerary  molars.  All  of  them,  with  the 
exception  of  the  tushes,  are  provided  with  a  bony  neck  covered  by  the 
gums,  and  separating  the  body  of  the  tooth  from  the  root.  The  projecting 
portion  of  the  teeth  is  more  or  less  pointed,  and  disposed  so  as  to  tear 
and  crush  the  food  on  which  the  dog  lives.  They  are  of  a  moderate  size 
when  compared  with  those  of  other  animals,  and  are  subject  to  little  loss 
of  substance  compared  with  the  teeth  of  the  horse.  In  most  of  them, 
however,  there  is  some  alteration  of  form  and  substance,  both  in  the  inci- 
sors and  the  tushes ;  but  this  depends  so  much  on  the  kind  of  food  on 
which  the  animal  lives,  and  the  consequent  use  of  the  teeth,  that  the  indi- 
cation of  the  age,  by  the  altered  appearance  of  the  mouth,  is  not  to  be 
depended  upon  after  the  animal  is  four  or  five  years  old.  The  incisor 
teeth  are  six  in  number  in  each  jaw,  and  are  placed  opposite  to  each  other. 
In  the  lower  jaw,  the  pincers,  or  central  teeth,  are  the  largest  and  the 
strongest ;  the  middle  teeth  are  somewhat  less  ;  and  the  corner  teeth  the 
smallest  and  the  weakest.  In  the  upper  jaw,  however,  the  corner  teeth 
are  much  larger  than  the  middle  ones  ;  they  are  farther  apart  from  their 
neighbours,  and  they  terminate  in  a  conical  point  curved  somewhat  in- 
wards and  backwards. 

As  long  as  the  teeth  of  the  full-grown  dog  are  whole,  and  not  injured 
by  use,  they  have  a  healthy  appearance,  and  their  colour  is  beautifully 
white.  The  surface  of  the  incisors  presents,  as  in  the  ruminants,  an  in- 
terior and  cutting  edge,  and  a  hollow  or  depression  within.  This  edge  or 
border  is  divided  into  three  lobes,  the  largest  and  most  projecting  forming 
the  summit  or  point  of  the  tooth.  The  two  lateral  lobes  have  the  appear- 
ance of  notches  cut  on  either  side  of  the  principal  lobe  ;  and  the  union  of 
the  three  resembles  the  fleur  de  Us,  which,  however,  is  in  the  process  of 
time  effaced  by  the  wearing  out  of  the  teeth,  (figs.  3  &  4.) 

While  the  incisor  teeth  are  young,  they  are  flattened  on  their  sides,  and 
bent  somewhat  backwards,  and  there  is  a  decided  cavity,  in  which  a  pulpy 
substance  is  enclosed.  This,  however,  is  gradually  contracted  as  the  age 
of  the  dog  increases. 

M.  F.  Cuvier  speaks  of  certain  supernumerary  teeth  occasionally  de- 

N  2 


180  THE  TEETH. 

veloped  in  each  of  the  jaws.  There  Is  much  irregularity  accompanying 
them ;  and  they  have  even  been  supposed  to  have  extended  to  seven  or 
eight  in  number. 

The  Indications  of  Age. — The  dog  displays  natural  indications  of  age. 
The  hair  turns  gray  to  a  certain  extent  as  in  the  human  being.  This 
commences  about  the  eyes,  and  extends  over  the  face,  and  weakens  the 
sight ;  and,  at  ten  years  old,  or  earlier,  in  the  majority  of  dogs,  this  can 
scarcely  be  mistaken.  At  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  the  animal  is  becoming 
a  nuisance,  yet  he  has  been  known  to  linger  on  until  he  has  reached  his 
two-and-twentieth  year. 

Among  the  diseases  from  which  the  dog  suffers,  there  are  few  of  more 
frequent  occurrence  than  decayed  teeth,  especially  in  towns,  or  in  the 
habitations  of  the  higher  classes  of  society :  the  carious  teeth,  in  almost 
every  case,  becoming  insufferably  fetid,  or  so  loose  as  to  prevent  mastica- 
tion ;  or  an  immense  accumulation  of  tartar  growing  round  them. 

The  course  which  the  veterinary  surgeon  pursues  is  an  exceedingly 
simple  one.  If  any  of  the  teeth  are  considerably  loose,  they  must  be 
removed.  If  there  is  any  deposit  of  tartaric  acid,  it  must  be  got  rid  of 
by  means  of  the  proper  instruments,  not  very  different  from  those  which 
the  human  surgeon  employs.  The  teeth  must  be  perfectly  cleaned,  and 
every  loose  one  taken  away.  Without  this  the  dog  will  be  an  almost  in- 
sufferable nuisance. 

The  decayed  and  loose  teeth  being  removed,  chlorinated  lime  diluted 
with  15  or  20  times  its  bulk  of  water  should  be  applied  to  the  gums.  By 
the  use  of  this  the  ulcers  will  quickly  heal ;  the  fetor  will  be  removed, 
and  the  deposition  of  the  tartar  prevented.  Mr.  Blaine  first  introduced  the 
chlorinated  lime  for  the  accomplishment  of  these  purposes. 

Two  little  histories  out  of  a  great  number  will  sufficiently  illustrate  these 
cases.  A  terrier  had  scarcely  eaten  during  more  than  a  week.  He 
dropped  his  meat  after  attempting  to  chew  it,  and  the  breath  was  very 
offensive.  Several  of  the  teeth  were  loose,  arid  the  rest  were  thickly 
encrusted  with  tartar.  The  gums  had  receded  from  the  teeth,  and  were 
red,  sore,  and  ulcerated. 

I  removed  all  the  loose  teeth  ;  for  experience  had  taught  me  that  they 
rarely  or  never  became  again  fixed.  I  next,  with  the  forceps  and  knife, 
cleaned  the  others,  and  ordered  the  diluted  chlorinated  lime  to  be  alter- 
nated with  tincture  of  myrrh  and  water.  The  extraction  of  the  loose  teeth, 
and  the  removal  of  the  tartar  from  those  that  were  sound,  occupied  a  full 
hour ;  for  the  dog  resisted  with  all  his  might.  He,  however,  soon  began  to 
eat ;  the  lotions  were  continued  ;  and  five  months  afterwards,  the  mouth 
of  the  dog  was  not  in  the  slightest  degree  offensive. 

An  old  dog  should  not  be  quite  abandoned.  A  pug  had  only  four  teeth 
remaining  beside  the  canines.  They  were  all  thickly  covered  with  tartar, 
and  two  of  them  were  very  loose.  The  gums  and  lips  were  in  a  dreadfully 
cankerous  state,  and  the  dog  was  unable  to  eat.  All  that  he  could  do  was 
to  lap  a  little  milk  or  broth. 

I  extracted  the  two  loose  teeth,  cleaned  the  others,  and  ordered  a  lotion 
of  equal  parts  of  tincture  of  myrrh  and  water  to  be  applied. 

13th  August,  1842. — A  very  considerable  discharge  of  pus  was  ob- 
served, with  blood  from  the  mouth,  apparently  proceeding  from  the  cavity 
whence  one  of  the  teeth  had,  been  extracted.  The  dog  is  exceedingly 
thirsty,  and  walks  round  and  round  the  water-dish  but  is  afraid  to  lap.  He 


THE  LARYNX.  181 

has  not  eaten  for  two  days.  Use  the  lotion  as  before,  and  force  him  with 
strong  soup. 

15th.  The  dog  has  not  voluntarily  eaten,  but  is  still  forced  with  soup. 
He  is  very  costive.  Give  two  grains  of  calomel  and  an  equal  quantity  of 
antimonial  powder. 

18^.  He  has  eaten  a  very  little,  but  gets  thinner  and  weaker.  Continue 
the  lotion. 

21th.  The  ulcers  are  nearly  healed,  and  the  discharge  of  pus  has 
ceased. 

31  st.  The  mouth  is  clean,  the  gums  are  healed,  and  there  is  no  longer 
anything  offensive  about  the  dog. 

THE    LARYNX 

is  placed  at  the  top  of  the  windpipe,  the  exit  from  the  lungs,  and  is  also 
connected  with  the  Schneiderian  membrane.  At  its  upper  part  is  the 
epiglottis,  the  main  guard  against  the  passage  of  the  food  into  the  respir- 
atory tubes,  and,  at  the  same  time,  of  the  instrument  of  the  voice.  It 
consists  of  five  cartilages  united  together  by  a  ligamentous  substance,  and, 
by  distinct  and  perfect  articulations,  adapting  itself  to  every  change  of 
the  respiratory  process  and  the  production  of  the  voice. 

At  the  base  is  the  cricoid  cartilage,  the  support  and  bond  of  union  of 
the  rest.  Above  are  the  arytenoid  cartilages,  resting  on  the  chordae  vocales 
and  influencing  their  action.  The  epiglottis  is  placed  at  the  extremity  of 
the  opening  into  the  windpipe,  with  its  back  opposed  to  the  pharynx,  so 
that  when  a  pellet  of  food  passes  from  the  pharynx  in  its  way  to  the  oeso- 
phagus, the  epiglottis  is  applied  over  the  glottis,  and  by  this  means  closes 
the  aperture  of  the  larynx,  and  prevents  any  portion  of  the  food  from 
passing  into  it.  The  food  having  passed  over  the  epiglottis,  that  cartilage, 
from  its  elastic  power,  again  rises  and  resumes  its  former  situation. 

The  thyroid  cartilage  envelopes  and  protects  all  the  rest,  and  particu- 
larly the  lining  membrane  of  the  larynx,  which  vibrates  from  the  impulse 
of  the  air  that  passes.  The  vibrations  spread  in  every  direction  until  they 
reach  the  delicate  membrane  of  the  tympanum  of  the  ear.  That  membrane 
responds  to  the  motion  without,  and  the  vibration  is  carried  on  to  the  pulp 
of  the  auditory  nerve,  deep  in  the  recesses  of  the  ear.  The  loudness  of  the 
tone — its  acuteness  or  graveness — depends  on  the  force  of  the  expired  air 
and  the  shortening  or  lengthening  of  the  chord.  Hence  it  is,  that  the  tone 
of  the  bark  of  the  dog,  or  the  neighing  of  the  horse,  depends  so  much  on 
the  age  or  size  of  the  animal.  Thus  we  compare  the  shrill  bark  of  the 
puppy  with  the  hoarse  one  of  the  adult  dog ;  the  high-toned  but  sweet 
music  of  the  beagle  with  the  fuller  and  lower  cry  of  the  fox-hound,  and 
the  deep  but  melodious  baying  of  the  mastiff.  I  may,  perhaps,  be  per- 
mitted to  add  to  these,  the  whinnying  of  the  colt  and  the  neighing  of  the 
horse. 

Each  animal  has  his  peculiar  and  intelligible  language.  He  who  has 
long  lived  among  them  will  recognise  the  tone  of  delight  at  meeting, 
rising  into  and  terminating  in  a  sharper  sound  ;  the  strong  and  elevated 
tone  when  they  are  calling  to  or  challenging  each  other  at  a  distance  ; 
the  short  expression  of  anger — the  longer,  deeper,  hoarser  tone  of  fear ; 
the  murmur  almost  as  deep,  but  softer,  of  habitual  attachment,  and  the 
elevated  yet  melodious  token  of  sudden  recognition.  I  could  carry  on  a. 


182  BEONCHOCELE. 

conversation  with  a  dog  that  I  once  possessed  for  several  minutes,  and  one 
perfectly  intelligible  to  both. 

Inflammation  of  the  larynx  is  a  frequent  and  dangerous  complaint.  It 
usually  commences  with,  and  can  scarcely  be  distinguished  from,  catarrh, 
except  that  it  is  attended  by  cough  more  violent  and  painful,  and  the  dog 
expectorates  considerably.  Acute  laryngitis  is  not  so  frequent  an  occur- 
rence ;  but  there  is  much  danger  attending  it.  Blood  must  be  abstracted 
to  as  great  an  extent  as  the  pulse  will  bear,  or  until  it  becomes  evidently 
affected.  To  this  must  follow  digitalis,  nitre,  tartar  emetic,  and  aloes, 
and  to  these  must  be  added  a  powerful  blister.  A  considerable  quantity 
is  effused  and  organised,  the  membrane  is  thickened,  perhaps  permanently 
so,  and  the  whole  of  the  submucous  cellular  tissue  becomes  osdematous. 

The  dog  is  subject  to  sudden  attacks  of  angina.  It  has  been  imagined, 
from  the  appearances  that  are  manifested,  that  some  strange  body  is  arrested 
in  the  windpipe  or  the  throat.  There  is  no  dread  of  water  or  of  the  usual 
fluids ;  the  dog  will  lap  once  or  twice  from  that  fluid  which  is  placed 
before  him,  and  turns  slowly  away  from  it ;  and  this  circumstance  gives 
rise  to  what  is  called  dumb  madness.  The  dog  barks  in  a  particular 
manner,  or  rather  howls  like  a  rabid  dog :  he  is  out  of  spirits,  has  a  strange, 
anxious,  altered  countenance,  and  is  alternately  cold  and  hot.  Frequently 
added  to  this  is  redness  of  the  buccal  and  nasal  membranes.  He  refuses 
all  solid  food,  and  either  will  not  drink  or  finds  it  difficult  to  swallow  any- 
thing. His  mouth  is  generally  open,  and  contains  a  spumy  matter  exhal- 
ing an  offensive  smell.  His  tongue,  charged  with  a  great  quantity  of 
saliva,  protrudes  from  his  mouth,  and  the  submaxillary  glands  are  enlarged. 
To  these  appearances  are  added  a  yellow  tint  of  the  eyes,  constipation,  and 
a  small  quantity  of  urine,  surcharged  with  a  deep  yellow  colour.  At  this 
period  the  disease  has  generally  reached  a  considerable  degree  of  virulence. 
Often  the  inflammation  extends  to  the  back  part  of  the  mouth  and  larynx  ; 
and  in  this  last  case  the  respiration  is  attended  by  a  hoarse,  hissing  kind  of 
sound. 

The  progress  of  the  disease  is  rapid,  and,  in  a  few  days,  it  reaches  its 
highest  degree  of  intensity.  It  is  always  fatal  when  it  is  intense ;  and, 
when  its  influence  is  widely  spread,  it  is  a  very  dangerous  complaint. 

Somewhat  rarely  the  subjects  of  it  recover.  After  death  we  find  great 
redness  and  injection  in  all  the  affected  nervous  surfaces,  and  indications 
of  abscesses  in  which  suppuration  was  not  fully  established. 

BRONCHOCELE  OR  GOITRE 

in  the  dog  is  almost  daily  forced  upon  our  notice.  If  a  spaniel  or  pug- 
puppy  is  mangy,  pot-bellied,  ricketty,  or  deformed,  he  seldom  fails  to  have 
some  enlargement  of  the  thyroid  gland.  The  spaniel  and  the  pug  are 
most  subject  to  this  disease.  The  jugular  vein  passes  over  the  thyroid 
gland ;  and,  as  that  substance  increases,  the  vein  is  sometimes  brought  into 
sight,  and  appears  between  the  gland  and  the  integument,  fearfully  en- 
larged, varicose,  and  almost  appearing  as  if  it  were  bursting.  The  trachea 
is  pressed  upon  on  either  side,  and  the  O3sophagus  by  the  left  gland,  and 
there  is  difficulty  of  swallowing.  The  poor  animal  pants  distressingly 
after  the  least  exertion,  and  I  have  known  absolute  suffocation  ensue.  In 
a  few  cases  ulceration  lias  followed,  and  the  sloughing  has  been  dreadful, 
yet  the  gland  has  still  preserved  its  characteristic  structure.  Although 


BRONCHOCELE.  183 

numerous  abscesses  have  been  formed  in  the  lower  part  of  it,  and  there 
has  been  considerable  discharge,  viscid  or  purulent,  the  upper  part  has 
remained  as  hard  and  almost  as  scirrhous  as  before. 

Cause  of  Goitre. — In  many  cases,  this  enlargement  of  the  thyroid  glands 
is  plainly  connected  with  a  debilitated  state  of  the  constitution  generally, 
and  more  particularly  with  a  disposition  to  rickets.  I  have  rarely  seen  a 
puppy  that  has  had  mange  badly,  and  especially  if  mange  was  closely  fol- 
lowed by  distemper,  that  did  not  soon  exhibit  goitre.  Puppies  half- 
starved,  and  especially  if  dirtily  kept,  are  thus  affected ;  and  it  is  gene- 
rally found  connected  with  a  loose  skin,  flabby  muscles,  enlarged  belly, 
and  great  stupidity.  On  the  other  hand,  I  have  seen  hundreds  of  dogs, 
to  all  appearance  otherwise  healthy,  in  whom  the  glands  of  the  neck  have 
suddenly  and  frightfully  enlarged.  I  have  never  been  able  to  trace  this 
disease  to  any  particular  food,  whether  solid  or  liquid ;  although  it  is  cer- 
tainly the  frequent  result  of  want  of  nutriment. 

Some  friends,  of  whom  I  particularly  inquired,  assured  me,  that  it  is  not 
to  any  great  extent  prevalent  in  those  parts  of  Derbyshire  where  goitre  is 
oftenest  seen  in  the  human  being. 

It  is  periodical  in  the  dog.  I  have  seen  it  under  medical  treatment,  and 
without  medical  treatment,  perfectly  disappear  for  a  while,  and  soon  after- 
wards, without  any  assignable  cause,  return.  There  is  a  breed  of  $he 
Blenheim  spaniel,  in  which  this  periodical  goitre  is  very  remarkable ;  the 
slightest  cold  is  accompanied  by  enlargement  of  the  thyroid  gland,  but 
the  swelling  altogether  disappears  in  the  course  of  a  fortnight.  I  am  quite 
assured  that  it  is  hereditary ;  no  one  that  is  accustomed  to  dogs  can  doubt 
this  for  a  moment. 

Treatment. — I  am  almost  ashamed  to  confess  how  many  inefficient  and 
cruel  methods  of  treatment  I  many  years  ago  adopted.  I  used  mercurial 
friction,  external  stimulants,  and  blisters ;  I  have  been  absurd  enough  to 
pass  setons  through  the  tumours,  and  even  to  extirpate  them  with  the 
knife.  The  mercury  salivated  without  any  advantage,  the  stimulants  and 
the  blisters  aggravated  the  evil ;  the  setons  did  so  in  a  tenfold  degree,  so 
that  many  dogs  were  lost  in  the  irritative  fever  that  was  produced ;  and, 
although  the  gland,  when  dissected  out,  could  not  be  reproduced,  yet  I 
have  been  puzzled  with  the  complication  of  vessels  around  it,  and  in  one 
case  lost  my  patient  by  hemorrhage,  which  I  could  not  arrest. 

When  the  power  of  iodine  in  the  dispersion  of  glandular  tumours  was 
first  spoken  of,  I  eagerly  tried  it  for  this  disease,  and  was  soon  satisfied 
that  it  was  almost  a  specific.  I  scarcely  recollect  a  case  in  which  the 
glands  have  not  very  materially  diminished  ;  and,  in  the  decided  majority 
of  cases,  they  have  been  gradually  reduced  to  their  natural  size.  I  first 
tried  an  ointment  composed  of  the  iodide  of  potassium  and  lard,  with 
some,  but  not  a  satisfactory  result.  Next  I  used  the  tincture  of  iodine, 
in  doses  of  from  five  to  ten  drops,  and  with  or  without  any  external 
local  application ;  but  I  found,  at  length,  that  the  simple  iodine,  made 
into  pills  with  powdered  gum  and  syrup,  effected  almost  all  that  I 
could  wish.  It  is  best  to  commence  with  the  eighth  of  a  grain  for  a  small 
dog,  and  rapidly  increase  it  to  half  a  grain,  morning  and  night.  A  larger 
dog  may  take  from  a  quarter  of  a  grain  to  a  grain.  In  a  few  instances, 
loss  of  appetite  and  slight  emaciation  have  been  produced  ;  but  then,  the 
medicine  being  suspended  for  a  few  days,  no  permanent  ill  effect  has  ever 
followed  the  exhibition  of  iodine. 


184  PHLEOMONOU6  TUMOUR. 


PHLEGMONOUS  TUMOUR. 

A  phlegmonous  tumour  under  the  throat,  and  accompanied  by  constitu- 
tional disturbance,  with  the  exception  of  there  being  little  or  no  cough, 
often  appears  in  the  dog.  Comparing  the  size  of  the  animals,  these 
tumours  are  much  larger  than  in  either  the  horse  or  ox ;  but  they  are 
situated  higher  up  the  face,  and  do  not  press  so  much  upon  the  windpipe, 
nor  is  there  any  apparent  danger  of  suffocation  from  them.  The  whole 
head,  however,  is  sometimes  enlarged  to  a  frightful  degree,  and  the  eyes 
are  completely  closed.  More  than  a  pint  of  fluid  has  sometimes  escaped 
from  a  middle-sized  dog  at  the  first  puncture  of  the  tumour. 

The  mode  of  treatment  is,  to  stimulate  the  part,  in  order  to  expedite 
the  suppuration  of  the  tumour,  and  to  lance  it  freely  and  deeply,  as  soon  as 
matter  is  evidently  formed.  The  wound  should  be  dressed  with  tincture 
of  aloes,  and  a  thick  bandage  placed  round  the  neck,  to  prevent  the  dog 
from  scratching  the  part,  which  often  causes  dreadful  laceration. 

These  tumours  in  the  throat  of  the  dog  are  not  always  of  a  phlegmonous 
character.  They  are  cysts,  sometimes  rapidly  formed,  and  of  considerable 
size,  and  filled  with  a  serous  or  gelatinous  fluid. 


ANATOMY  OF  THE  CHEST.  185 


CHAPTER    XI. 

ANATOMY  AND  DISEASES  OF  THE  CHEST  !  THE  DIAPHRAGM  ;  THE 
PERICARDIUM  ;  THE  HEART  ;  PLEURISY  ;  PNEUMONIA  ;  SPAS- 
MODIC COUGH. 

THE  chest  is  the  superior,  or  in  quadrupeds  the  anterior,  cavity  of  the 
trunk  of  the  body  :  it  is  divided  into  two  cavities  by  a  membranous  parti- 
tion, termed  mediastinum;  and  separated  from  the  abdomen,  or  cavity 
which  contains  the  liver,  spleen,  pancreas,  and  other  abdominal  viscera,  by 
the  diaphragm.,  which  is  of  a  musculo-membranous  nature.  This  mem- 
brane may  be  described,  as  it  is  divided,  into  the  main  circular  muscle,  with 
its  central  tendinous  expansion  forming  the  lower  part,  and  two  appendices, 
or  crura,  as  they  are  termed  from  their  peculiar  shape,  constituting  its 
superior  portion.  We  trace  the  fleshy  origin  of  the  grand  muscle,  laterally 
and  inferiorly,  commencing  from  the  cartilage  of  the  eighth  rib  anteriorly, 
and  following  somewhat  closely,  as  we  proceed  backward,  the  union  of  the 
posterior  ribs  with  their  cartilages,  excepting,  however,  the  two  last.  The 
attachment  is  peculiarly  strong.  It  is  denticulated  :  it  encloses  the  whole 
of  the  latter  and  inferior  part  of  the  chest  as  far  as  the  sternum,  where  it  is 
connected  with  the  ensiform  cartilage. 

The  diaphragm  is  the  main  agent,  both  in  ordinary  and  extraordinary 
respiration.  In  its  quiescent  state  it  presents  its  convex  surface  towards 
the  thorax,  and  its  concave  one  towards  the  abdomen.  The  anterior  con- 
vexity abuts  upon  the  lungs  ;  the  posterior  concavity  is  occupied  by  some 
of  the  abdominal  viscera. 

Thus  far  we  have  described  the  diaphragm  as  found  in  the  horse,  ox,  and 
sheep.  There  is  some  difference  with  regard  to  the  dog.  The  muscular 
part  of  the  diaphragm  is  thick  and  strong  in  every  species  of  dog,  while  the 
aponeurotic  expansion  is  comparatively  smaller.  From  the  smaller  expanse 
of  the  thorax  of  the  dog,  and  the  consequent  little  expansion  of  the  dia- 
phragm, the  action,  although  occasionally  rapid  and  violent — for  he  is  an 
animal  of  speed — is  not  so  extensive,  and  more  muscle  and  less  tendon  may 
be  given  to  him,  not  only  without  detriment,  but  with  evident  advantage. 
Therefore,  although  we  have  occasional  rupture  of  the  heart  of  the  dog, 
oftener  perhaps  than  in  the  horse,  there  is  no  case  of  rupture  of  the  dia- 
phragm on  record. 

The  cavity  of  the  thorax  is  lined  by  a  membrane,  termed  pleura,  which 
covers  the  surface  of  the  lungs. 

The  lungs  on  either  side  are  enclosed  in  «,  separate  and  perfect  bag,  and 
each  lung  has  a  distinct  pleura.  The  heart  lies  under  the  left  lung ;  and, 
more  perfectly  to  cut  off  all  injurious  connexion  or  communication  of 
disease  between  the  lungs  and  the  heart,  the  heart  is  enclosed  in  a  distinct 
pleura  or  bag,  termed  the  pericardium.  This  membrane  closely  invests  the 
heart,  supports  it  in  its  situation,  prevents  too  great  dilatation  when  it  is 
gorged  with  blood,  and  too  violent  action  when  it  is  sometimes  unduly  sti- 
mulated. Notwithstanding  the  confinement  of  the  pericardium,  the  heart, 


186  ANATOMY  OF  DISEASES 

when  under  circumstances  of  unusual  excitation,  beats  violently  against  the 
ribs,  and,  were  it  not  thus  tied  down,  would  often  bruise  and  injure  itself, 
and  cause  inflammation  in  the  neighbouring  parts. 

The  heart  is  composed  of  four  cavities ;  two  above,  called  auricles, 
from  their  shape  and  two  below,  termed  ventricles,  occupying  the  bulk  of 
the  heart.  In  point  of  fact,  there  are  two  hearts — the  one  on  the  left  side 
propelling  the  blood  through  the  frame,  and  the  other  on  the  right  side 
conveying  it  through  the  pulmonary  system ;  but,  united  in  the  manner  in 
which  they  are,  their  junction  contributes  to  their  mutual  strength,  and 
both  circulations  are  carried  on  at  the  same  time. 

The  beating  of  the  heart  in  the  dog  is  best  examined  behind  the  elbow 
on  the  left  side.  The  hand,  applied  flat  against  the  ribs,  will  give  the 
number  and  character  of  the  pulsations.  The  pericardium,  or  outer  invest- 
ing membrane  of  the  heart,  is  frequently  liable  to  inflammation,  indicated 
by  a  quickened  and  irregular  respiration,  and  an  action  of  the  heart,  bound- 
ing at  an  early  period  of  the  disease,  but  becoming  scarcely  recognisable  as 
the  fluid  increases.  The  patient  is  then  beginning  gradually  to  sink.  A 
thickening  of  the  substance  of  the  heart  is  occasionally  suspected,  and,  on 
the  other  hand,  an  increased  capacity  of  the  cavities  of  the  heart ;  the 
parietes  being  considerably  thinner,  and  the  frame  of  the  animal  emaciated. 

The  pulse  of  the  greater  part  of  our  domestic  animals  has  been  calcu- 
lated by  Mr.  Vatel,  in  his  excellent  work  on  Veterinary  Pathology,  to  be 
nearly  as  follows : — 

38  pulsations  in  a  minute. 


In  the 

horse,          fr< 

>m    £ 

2 

to     38 

n 

ox  or  cow,    , 

2 

5 

„     42 

„ 

ass,               „ 

4 

8 

„     54 

J5 

sheep,           „ 

7 

0 

»     79 

» 

goat,             M 

7 

2 

,,     76 

1) 

dog,               „ 

.  '"D 

0 

„    100 

w 

cat,               „ 

11 

0 

„    120 

n 

rabbit 

120 

„ 

guinea-pig 

140 

55 

crow 

136 

M 

duck 

136 

hen 

140 

„ 

heron 

200 

The  pulse  of  the  dog  maybe  easily  ascertained  by  feeling  at  the  heart  or 
the  inside  of  the  knee,  and  it  varies  materially,  according  to  the  breed,  as 
well  as  the  size  of  the  animal.  This  is  very  strikingly  the  case  with  some 
of  the  sporting  dogs,  with  whom  the  force  as  well  as  the  rapidity  of  the 
pulse  vary  materially  according  to  the  character  and  breed  of  the  dog. 

There  is,  occasionally,  in  the  dog  as  in  the  human  being,  an  alteration  of 
the  quantity,  as  well  as  of  the  quality,  of  the  blood.  An&mia  is  the  term 
used  to  designate  a  deficiency  in  quantity ;  plethora  the  opposite  state  of  it, 
M.  D' Arbor  relates  a  very  curious  account  of  the  former : — 

Two  dogs  were  sent  into  the  hospital  of  the  veterinary  school  at  Lyons. 
They  did  not  appear  to  suffer  any  considerable  pain.  Their  skin  and 
mucous  membranes  that  were  visible  had  a  peculiar  appearance.  They 
had  also  comparatively  little  power  over  their  limbs ;  so  little,  indeed,  that 
they  rested  continually  on  one  side,  without  the  ability  to  shift  their  posture. 
When  they  were  placed  on  their  feet,  their  limbs  gave  way,  and  they  fell 
the  moment  they  were  quitted.  In  despite  of  the  care  that  was  taken  of 
them  they  died  on  the  second  day. 


OF  THE  CHEST.  1 87 

Incisions  were  made  through  the  skin,  but  in  opening  them  no  blood 
flowed.  The  venae  cavse  themselves  did  not  contain  any — there  were  only 
two  clots  of  blood  in  the  cavities  of  their  hearts.  One  of  them,  of  the  size 
of  a  small  nutmeg,  occupied  the  left  ventricle ;  the  other,  which  was  still 
smaller,  was  found  at  the  base  of  the  right  ventricle.  The  chest  of  one  of 
them  enclosed  a  small  quantity  of  serosity ;  a  similar  fluid  was  between  the 
dura  mater  and  the  arachnoid  membrane,  and  the  same  was  the  case  in  the 
larger  ventricles  of  the  encephalon.  The  other  viscera  did  not  offer  any- 
thing remarkable,  except  the  paleness  and  flaccidity  of  their  tissue.  The 
great  fatigues  of  the  chace,  and  the  immersion  of  these  animals  in  water  at 
the  time  that  they  were  very  much  heated,  appeared  to  have  been  the  causes 
of  this  singular  disease.  In  the  Report  of  the  labours  of  the  School  of  Alfort, 
in  the  year  1825,  the  same  anaemia  was  remarked  in  two  dogs  that  died 
there  ;  one  of  them  had  lately  undergone  a  considerable  hemorrhage,  and 
in  the  other  anaemia  had  developed  itself  spontaneously. 

It  is  in  fact  among  dogs  that  this  extreme  anaemia  has  been  principally 
observed,  and  is  ordinarily  fatal.  It  has  been  remarked  by  M.  Crusal  in  a 
bullock  attacked  with  gastro-enteritis. 

This  disease,  according  to  M.  Vatel,  is  generally  the  symptom  of  a 
chronic  malady,  or  the  instantaneous  effect  of  an  excessive  hemorrhage. 
It  is  rarely  primary.  The  extreme  discoloration  of  the  tissues,  and  of  the 
mucous  membrane  more  particularly ;  the  disappearance  of  the  subcutane- 
ous blood-vessels  ;  and  the  extreme  feebleness  of  the  animal,  are  the  princi- 
pal symptoms.  There  also  often  exists  considerable  swelling  of  the  limbs. 

The  following  singular  case  of  a  wound  penetrating  into  the  chest  and 
pericardium  of  a  dog  is  recorded  by  Professor  Delafond  : — 

A  mastiff  dog  fighting  with  another  was  stabbed  in  the  chest  by  the 
master  of  his  antagonist.  Five  hours  after  the  accident,  the  Professor  was 
sent  for.  On  the  exterior  of  the  sternum  was  a  laceration  an  inch  and  a 
half  in  length,  covered  by  a  spumy  fluid,  from  the  centre  of  which  was 
heard  a  gurgling  noise,  showing  that  a  wound  had  penetrated  into  the  sac 
of  the  pleura.  The  respiration  was  quick,  and  evidently  painful ;  the 
beating  of  the  heart  was  also  strong  and  precipitate.  The  finger  being 
introduced  into  the  wound,  penetrated  between  the  fourth  and  fifth  rib  on 
the  left  side.  "  Having  arrived  at  the  pleuritic  sac,"  says  the  Professor, 
"  I  gently  tapped  the  surface  of  the  lung,  in  order  to  assure  myself  that  it 
was  not  injured ;  my  finger  penetrated  into  the  pericardium,  and  the  point 
of  the  heart  beat  against  it." 

He  bathed  the  wound  with  a  little  diluted  wine,  and  brought  the  edges 
of  it  as  near  together  as  he  could,  and  confined  them  with  a  suture, 
administering  a  mild  aperient. 

On  the  following  day,  the  animal  walked  slowly  about,  seeking  for 
something  to  eat ;  he  gave  him  some  milk.  On  changing  the  dressing  he 
tried  whether  he  could  again  introduce  any  sound  into  the  wound  ;  but  it 
would  only  penetrate  a  very  little  way  ;  indeed,  reunion  by  adhesion  had 
already  taken  place. 

On  the  fifth  day,  the  animal  was  in  good  spirits ;  the  wound  had  a  healthy 
red  appearance,  and  all  tended  to  a  speedy  cure. 

On  the  eighth  day  he  was  sent  home  to  his  master,  a  distance  of  two 
leagues  from  his  house.  He  saw  the  dog  eighteen  months  afterwards,  and 
he  was  as  eager  as  ever  after  his  game. 

The  following  is  a  case  of  rupture  of  the  heart : — a  black  pointer,  of 


188  DISEASES  OF  THE  CHEST. 

the  Scotch  breed,  had  every  appearance  of  good  health,  except  that  she 
frequently  fell  into  a  fit  after  having  run  a  little  way,  and  sometimes  even 
after  playing  in  the  yard.  She  was  several  times  bled  during  and  after 
these  fits.  "When  I  examined  her,  I  could  plainly  perceive  considerable 
and  violent  spasmodic  motion  of  the  heart,  and  the  sounds  of  the  beating 
of  the  heart  were  irregular  and  convulsive.  She  was  sent  to  the  infirmary, 
in  order  to  be  cured  of  an  attack  of  mange ;  but  during  her  stay  in  the 
hospital  she  had  these  fits  several  times  :  the  attack  almost  always  followed 
after  she  had  been  playing  with  other  dogs.  She  appeared  as  if  struck  by 
lightning,  and  remained  motionless  for  several  minutes,  her  gums  losing 
their  natural  appearance  and  assuming  a  bluish  hue.  After  the  lapse  of  a 
few  minutes  she  again  arose  as  if  nothing  had  been  the  matter.  She  was 
bled  twice  in  eight  days,  and  several  doses  of  foxglove  were  administered 
to  her.  The  fits  appeared  to  become  less  frequent ;  but,  playing  one  day 
with  another  dog,  she  fell  and  expired  immediately. 

The  post-mortem  examination  was  made  two  hours  after  death.  The 
cavity  of  the  pericardium  contained  a  red  clot  of  blood,  which  enveloped 
the  whole  of  the  heart ;  it  was  thicker  in  the  parts  that  corresponded  with 
the  valve  of  the  heart ;  and  on  the  left  ventricle,  and  near  the  base  of  the 
left  valve  of  the  heart,  and  on  the  external  part  of  that  viscus,  was  an 
irregular  rent  two  inches  long.  It  crossed  the  wall  of  the  valve  of  the 
heart,  which  was  very  thin  in  this  place.  The  size  of  the  heart  was  very 
small  considering  the  height  and  bulk  of  the  dog.  The  walls  of  the  ven- 
tricles, and  particularly  of  the  left  ventricle,  were  very  thick.  The  cavity 
of  the  left  ventricle  was  very  small ;  there  was  evidently  a  concentric 
hypertrophy  of  these  ventricles  j  the  left  valve  of  the  heart  was  of  great 
size. 

The  immediate  cause  of  the  rupture  of  the  valve  of  the  heart  had  evi- 
dently been  an  increase  of  circulation,  brought  on  by  an  increase  of 
exercise  ;  but  the  remote  cause  consisted  in  the  remarkable  thinness  of  the 
walls  of  the  valve  of  the  heart.  This  case  is  remarkable  in  more  than  one 
respect;  first,  because  examples  of  rupture  of  the  valve  of  the  heart  are 
very  rare  ;  and,  secondly,  because  this  rupture  had  its  seat  in  the  left  valve 
of  the  heart,  while,  usually,  in  both  the  human  being  and  the  quadruped, 
it  takes  place  in  the  right,  and  this,  without  doubt,  because  the  walls  and 
the  valves  of  the  right  side  are  thinner. 

Diseases  of  the  investing  membrane  of  the  lungs,  and  the  pleura  of  the 
thoracic  cavity,  and  of  the  substance  of  the  lungs,  are  more  frequent  than 
those  of  the  heart. 

PLEURISY, 

or  inflammation  of  the  membrane  of  the  chest  and  the  lungs  of  the  dog, 
is  not  unfrequent.  There  are  few  instances  of  inflammation  of  the  lungs, 
or  pneumonia,  that  do  not  ultimately  become  connected  with  or  terminate 
in  pleurisy.  The  tenderness  of  the  sides,  the  curious  twitching  that  is 
observed,  the  obstinate  sitting  up,  and  the  presence  of  a  short,  suppressed, 
painful  cough,  which  the  dog  bears  with  strange  impatience,  are  the  symp- 
toms that  principally  distinguish  it  from  pneumonia.  The  exploration 
of  the  chest  by  auscultation  gives  a  true  picture  of  it  in  pleurisy ;  and,  by 
placing  the  dog  alternately  on  his  chest,  his  back,  or  his  side,  we  can  readily 
ascertain  the  extent  to  which  effusion  exists  in  the  thoracic  cavity  ;  and,  if 
we  think  proper,  we  can  get  rid  of  the  fluid.  It  is  not  a  dangerous  thing 


PNEUMONIA.  189 

to  attempt,  although  it  is  very  problematical  whether  much  advantage 
would  accrue  from  the  operation.  With  a  favourite  dog  it  may,  however, 
be  tried ;  and,  to  prevent  all  accidents,  a  veterinary  surgeon  should  be 
intrusted  with  the  case. 

PNEUMONIA, 

or  inflammation  of  the  substance  of  the  lungs,  is  a  complaint  of  frequent 
occurrence  in  the  dog,  and  is  singularly  marked.  The  extended  head,  the 
protruded  tongue,  the  anxious,  bloodshot  eye,  the  painful  heaving  of  the 
hot  breath,  the  obstinacy  with  which  the  animal  sits  up  hour  after  hour 
until  his  feet  slip  from  under  him,  and  the  eye  closes,  and  the  head  droops, 
through  extreme  fatigue,  yet  in  a  moment  being  roused  again  by  the  feeling 
of  instant  suffocation,  are  symptoms  that  cannot  be  mistaken. 

Here,  from  the  comparative  thinness  of  the  integument  and  the  parietes, 
we  have  the  progress  of  the  disease  brought  completely  under  our  view. 
The  exploration  of  the  chest  of  the  dog  by  auscultation  is  a  beautiful  as 
well  as  wonderful  thing.  It  at  least  exhibits  to  us  the  actual  state  of  the 
lungs,  if  it  does  not  always  enable  us  to  arrest  the  impending  evil. 

Mr.  Blaine  and  myself  used  cordially  to  agree  with  regard  to  the  treat- 
ment of  pneumonia,  materially  different  from  the  opinions  of  the  majority 
of  sportsmen.  Epidemic  pneumonia  was  generally  fatal,  if  it  was  not 
speedily  arrested  in  its  course.  The  cure  was  commenced  by  bleeding,  and 
that  to  a  considerable  extent,  when  not  more  than  four-and-twenty  or  six- 
and-thirty  hours  had  passed ;  for,  after  that,  the  progress  of  the  disease 
could  seldom  be  arrested.  Blistering  the  chest  was  sometimes  resorted  to 
with  advantage ;  and  the  cantharides  ointment  and  the  oil  of  turpentine 
formed  one  of  the  most  convenient  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  efficacious 
blisters.  A  purgative  was  administered,  composed  of  mutton  broth  with 
Epsom  salts  or  castor  oil ;  to  which  followed  the  administration  of  the  best 
sedatives  that  we  have  in  those  cases,  namely,  nitre,  powdered  foxglove,  and 
antimonial  powder,  in  the  proportion  of  a  scruple  of  the  first,  four  grains 
of  the  second,  and  two  grains  of  the  third. 

Congestion  of  the  lungs  is  a  frequent  termination  of  pneumonia;  and  in 
that  congestion  the  air-cells  are  easily  ruptured  and  filled  with  blood.  That 
blood  assumes  a  black  pulpy  appearance,  commonly  indicated  by  the  term 
of  rottenness,  an  indication  or  consequence  of  the  violence  of  the  disease, 
and  the  hopelessness  of  the  case.  A  different  consequence  of  inflammation 
of  the  lungs  is  the  formation  of  tubercles,  and,  after  that,  of  suppuration 
and  abscess,  when,  generally  speaking,  the  case  is  hopeless.  A  full  account 
of  this  is  given  in  the  work  on  the  Horse. 

Two  cases  of  pneumonia  will  be  useful : — 

Oct.  22nd,  1820.  A  black  pointer  bitch  that  had  been  used  to  a  warm 
kennel,  was  made  to  sleep  on  flat  stones  without  straw.  A  violent  cough 
followed,  under  which  she  had  been  getting  worse  and  worse  for  a  fortnight. 
Yesterday  I  saw  her.  The  breathing  was  laborious.  The  bitch  was  con- 
stantly shifting  her  position,  and,  whether  she  lay  down  or  sat  up,  was 
endeavouring  to  elevate  her  head.  Her  usual  posture  was  sitting,  and 
she  only  lay  down  for  a  minute.  The  eyes  were  surrounded,  and  the  nose 
nearly  stopped  with  mucus.  V.  S.  Sviij.  Emet.  Fever- ball  twice  in  the 
day.  23rd.  Breathing  not  quite  so  laborious.  Will  not  eat.  Medicine 
as  before.  Apply  a  blister  on  the  chest.  24th.  Nearly  the  same.  V.  S. 
5vj.  Bol.  utheri.  26th.  Decided  amendment.  She  breathes  with  much 


190  DISEASES  OF  THE  CHEST. 

less  difficulty.  Less  discharge  both  from  eyes  and  nose.  Bol.  utheri. 
Nov.  7th.  Sent  home  well. 

A  singular  and  not  uninstructive  case  came  before  me.  A  lady  in  the 
country  wrote  to  me  to  say,  that  her  terrier  was  thin,  dull,  husking,  and 
perpetually  trying  to  get  something  from  the  throat ;  that  her  coat  stared, 
and  she  frequently  panted.  I  replied,  that  I  apprehended  she  had  caught 
cold ;  and  recommended  bleeding  to  the  extent  of  four  ounces,  a  grain  each 
of  calomel  and  emetic  tartar  to  be  given  every  fourth  morning,  and  a  fever- 
ball,  composed  of  digitalis,  nitre,  and  tartrate  of  antimony,  on  each  inter- 
mediate day. 

A  few  days  after  this  I  received  another  letter  from  her,  saying,  that 
the  dog  was  bled  as  ordered,  and  died  on  the  following  Thursday.  That 
another  veterinary  surgeon  had  been  called  in,  who  said  that  the  first  one 
had  punctured  the  vena  cava  in  the  operation,  and  that  the  dog  had  bled 
to  death  internally ;  and  she  wished  to  know  my  opinion.  I  replied,  that 
the  charge  proceeded  from  ignorance  or  malice,  or  both.  That  in  one 
sense  he  was  right — the  jugular,  which  the  other  had  probably  opened, 
runs  into  the  vena  cava,  and  may,  with  some  latitude,  be  considered  a 
superior  branch  of  it ;  therefore,  thus  far  the  first  man  had  punctured  the 
vena  cava,  which  I  had  done  many  hundred  times ;  but  that  the  point  of 
union  of  the  four  principal  veins  that  form  the  vena  cava  was  too  securely 
seated  in  the  upper  part  of  the  thorax  for  any  lancet  to  reach  it.  That 
the  rupture  of  some  small  arterial  vessel  might  have  caused  this  lingering 
death,  but  that  the  puncture  of  a  vein  would  either  have  been  speedily 
fatal,  or  of  no  consequence ;  arid  that,  probably,  the  animal  died  of  the 
disease  which  she  had  described. 

SPASMODIC  COUGH 

is  a  troublesome  disease  to  manage.  Dogs,  and  especially  those  consider- 
ably petted,  are  subject  to  frequent  cough,  requiring  a  material  difference 
in  the  treatment.  Sometimes  there  is  a  husky  cough,  not  to  so  great  a 
degree  as  in  distemper,  but  followed  by  the  same  apparent  effort  to  get 
something  from  the  throat,  the  same  attempt  to  vomit,  and  the  ejection  of 
mucus,  frothy  or  adhesive,  and  occasionally  discoloured  with  bile.  It 
proceeds  from  irritability  or  obstruction  in  some  of  the  air-passages,  and 
oftenest  of  the  superior  ones.  An  emetic  will  clear  the  fauces,  or  at  least 
force  out  a  portion  of  the  adhesive  matter  which  is  clogging  the  bronchial 
tubes. 

A  cough  of  this  kind,  and  attended  in  its  early  stages  by  little  fever, 
seldom  requires  anything  more  for  its  cure  than  the  exhibition  of  a  few 
gentle  emetics,  consisting  of  equal  portions  of  calomel  and  emetic  tartar, 
given  in  doses  varying  from  half  a  grain  to  one  grain  and  a  half  of  each. 

A  harsh  hollow  cough  is  attended  by  more  inflammatory  action.  The 
depletive  system  must  be  adopted  here.  A  loud  and  harsh  cough  will 
yield  only  to  the  lancet  and  to  purgatives,  assisted  by  sedative  medicines 
composed  of  nitre,  antimonial  powder,  and  digitalis,  or  small  doses  of  syrup 
of  poppies,  or  more  minute  doses  of  the  hydrocyanic  acid  ;  this  last  medi- 
cine, -however,  should  be  carefully  watched,  and  only  given  under  surgical 
advice. 

28th  October,  1 842.  A  spaniel  was  apparently  well  yesterday,  but  towards 
evening  a  violent  cough  suddenly  came. on.  It  was  harsh  and  hollow,  and 


SPASMODIC  COUGH.  191 

terminated  in  retching.  There  was  a  discharge  of  water  from  the  eyes ; 
but  the  nose  was  cool  and  moist.  Give  an  emetic,  and  then  two  grains  of 
the  James's  powder.  29th.  The  animal  coughed  almost  the  whole  of  the 
night.  There  was  more  watery  discharge  from  the  eyes,  which  appeared 
to  be  red  and  impatient  of  light ;  the  nose  continued  cool,  and  the  dog  did 
not  refuse  his  food.  An  aperient  ball  was  given  ;  and  twice  afterward^  in 
the  day,  the  nitre,  antimonial  powder,  and  digitalis.  30th.  The  cough  is 
as  frequent,  but  not  very  loud.  Give  a  mixture  of  syrup  of  poppies  and 
prussic  acid  morning  and  night,  and  the  ball  as  yesterday.  31st.  Nearly 
in  the  same  state  as  yesterday,  except  that  he  is  not  so  thirsty,  and  does 
not  eat  so  well.  Give  the  mixture  three  times  daily.  Nov.  1st.  He  had 
an  emetic  in  the  morning,  which  produced  a  large  quantity  of  phlegm,  but 
the  cough  is  no  better.  No  evacuation  during  the  two  last  days.  Give 
an  aperient  ball,  and  the  mixture  as  before  in  the  evening. 

The  prussic  acid  has  been  fairly  tried ;  it  has  not  in  the  least  mitigated 
the  cough,  but  begins  to  make  the  dog  sick,  and  altogether  to  destroy  his 
appetite.  Give  three  times  in  the  day  a  mixture  consisting  of  two-thirds 
of  a  drachm  of  syrup  of  poppies,  and  one-third  of  syrup  of  buckthorn. 
The  sickness  ceased,  and  the  cough  remained  as  before.  I  then  gave 
twice  in  the  day  half  a  grain  of  calomel,  the  same  of  opium,  two  each  of 
pulvis  antimonialis  and  digitalis,  and  four  grains  of  nitre,  morning  and 
noon,  with  six  grains  of  the  Dover's  powder  at  night.  This  was  continued 
on  the  3rd,  4th  and  5th  of  November,  when  there  were  longer  intervals  of 
rest,  and  the  dog  did  not  cough  so  harshly  when  the  fit  was  on  him.  On 
the  6th,  however,  no  medicine  was  given  ;  but  towards  evening  the  dog 
coughed  as  much  as  ever,  and  a  decided  mucous  discharge  commenced 
from  the  nose  and  the  eyes,  with  considerable  snorting.  An  emetic  was 
given,  and  the  balls  resorted  to  as  before. 

7th.  He  appeared  to  be  much  relieved  by  the  emetic.  The  cough  was 
better,  the  dog  ate  well,  and  had  regained  his  usual  spirits.  The  ball  as 
before.  9th.  Slight  tenesmus  now  appeared.  It  quickly  became  frequent 
and  violent.  The  dog  strained  very  much  ;  but  the  discharge  was  small  in 
quantity,  and  consisted  of  adhesive  mucus.  Give  two  drachms  of  castor 
oil,  and  the  fever-ball  with  opium.  The  cough  is  worse,  and  the  dog  still 
continues  to  strain,  no  blood,  however,  appearing,  llth.  The  opium  and 
oil  have  had  their  desired  effect,  and  the  cough  is  better.  12th.  Except 
the  animal  is  kept  under  the  influence  of  opium,  the  cough  is  dreadfully 
troublesome.  I  have,  however,  obtained  one  point.  I  have  been  per- 
mitted to  subtract  four  ounces  of  blood  ;  but  blood  had  been  mingling  with 
the  expectorated  mucus  before  I  was  permitted  to  have  recourse  to  the 
lancet.  13th.  The  dog  is  better,  and  we  again  have  recourse  to  the  fever 
mixture,  to  which,  on  the  14th,  I  added  a  very  small  portion  of  the  car- 
bonate of  iron,  for  the  dog  was  evidently  getting  weak.  The  sickness  has 
returned,  and  the  cough  is  decidedly  worse.  16th.  Rub  a  small  quantity 
of  rheumatic  embrocation,  and  tincture  of  cantharides.  llth.  The  first 
application  of  the  blister  had  not  much  effect ;  but  this  morning  it  began 
to  act.  The  dog  ran  about  the  house  as  cross  as  he  could  be  for  more 
than  an  hour ;  there  was  considerable  redness  on  the  throat  and  chest. 
The  cough,  however,  was  decidedly  better.  18^.  The  cough  is  better. 
Again  apply  the  embrocation.  19th.  The  cough  and  huskiness  Jiave 
returned.  Employ  an  emetic,  and  continue  the  embrocation.  20th.  The 
cough  is  decidedly  worse.  Continue  the  embrocation,  and  give  the  fever 


192 


DISEASES  OF  THE  CHEST. 


mixture.  23rd.  The  embrocation  and  medicine  have  been  daily  used  ;  but 
the  cough  is  as  bad  as  ever.  Balls  of  assafoetida,  squills,  and  opium  were 
had  recourse  to.  25th.  The  second  ball  produced  the  most  distressing 
sickness,  but  the  cough  was  evidently  relieved.  The  assafoetida  was  dis- 
continued. 28th.  The  cough,  during  the  last  two  days,  has  been  gradually 
getting  worse.  It  is  more  laborious  and  longer,  and  the  intervals  between 
it  are  shorter.  Give  another  emetic  and  continue  the  other  medicine. 
30th.  The  effect  of  the  emetic  was  temporary,  and  the  cough  is  again 
worse. 

Dec.  2nd.  Very  little  change.  5th.  The  cough  appears  to  be  station- 
ary. Again  have  recourse  to  the  antimony,  digitalis,  and  nitre.  8th.  The 
cough  is  certainly  better.  Try  once  more  the  assafoetida.  It  again  pro- 
duced sickness,  but  of  a  very  mild  character.  12th.  The  assafoetida 
was  again  used  morning  and  night.  The  cough  continues  evidently  to 
abate.  14th.  The  dog  coughs  very  little,  not  more  than  half-a-dozen  times 
in  the  day.  Notwithstanding  the  quantity  of  medicine  that  has  been  taken, 
the  appetite  is  excellent,  and  the  spirits  good.  16th.  The  cough  is  still 
less  frequent,  but  when  it  occurs  it  is  attended  with  retching.  19th. 
The  cough  is  daily  getting  better,  and  is  not  heard  more  than  three  or  four 
times  in  the  four-and-twenty  hours,  and  then  very  slight.  30th.  At 
length  I  can  say  that  the  cough  has  ceased.  It  is  seldom  that  so  much 
trouble  would  have  been  taken  with  a  dog.  It  is  the  neglect  of  the 
medical  attendance  which  is  often  the  cause  of  death. 

Professor  Delafond,  of  Alfort,  gives  a  most  interesting  and  complete 
table  of  the  usual  diagnostic  symptoms  of  pleurisy  and  pneumonia. 


PLEURISY. 

Commencement  of  the  Inflammation. — 
Shivering,  usually  accompanied  by  slight 
colicky  pains,  and  followed  by  general  or 
partial  sweating.  Inspiration  always  short, 
unequal,  and  interrupted ;  expiration  full ; 
air  expired  of  the  natural  temperature. 
Cough  unfrequent,  faint,  short,  and  with- 
out expectoration.  Artery  full.  Pulsequick, 
small,  and  wiry. 

Auscultation.  —  A  respiratory  murmur, 
feeble,  or  accompanied  by  a  slight  rub- 
bing through  the  whole  extent  of  the 
chest,  or  in  some  parts  only. 


Percussion. — Slight,  dead,  grating  sound. 
Distinct  resonance  through  the  whole  of 
the  chest,  and  pain  expressed  when  the 
sides  are  tapped  or  compressed. 

Terminations. — Delitescence.  Cessation 
of  pain ;  moderate  temperature  of  the  skin ; 
sometimes  profuse  general  perspiration. 
Respiration  less  accelerated ;  inspiration 
easier  and  deeper.  Pulse  fuller  and  softer. 
Breath  of  the  natural  temperature.  Re- 
turn of  the  natural  respiratory  murmur 
and  resonance.  The  walls  of  the  chest 
cease  to  exhibit  increased  sensibility. 

Effusion,  false  Membranes.  —  Inspira- 
tion more  and  more  full. 


PNEUMONIA. 

Commencement  of  the  Inflammation. — 
General  shivering,  rarely  accompanied  by 
colicky  pains,  followed  by  partial  sweats 
at  the  flanks  and  the  inside  of  the  thighs. 
Inspiration  full,  expiration  short.  Air 
expired  hot.  Cough  frequently  followed 
by  slight  discharge  of  red-coloured  mucus. 
Artery  full.  Pulse  accelerated,  strong,  full, 
and  soft. 

Auscultation.  — Absence  of  respiratory 
murmur  in  places  where  the  lung  is  con- 
gested ;  feebleness  of  that  sound  in  the 
inflamed  parts,  with  humid  crepitating 
wheezing.  The  respiratory  murmur  in- 
creased in  the  sound  parts. 

Percussion. — The  dead  grating  sound 
confined  to  the  inflamed  parts.  Distinct 
resonance  at  the  sound  parts ;  increased 
sensibility  of  the  walls  of  the  chest  slight, 
or  not  existing  at  all. 

Terminations. — Resolution.  Tempera- 
ture of  the  skin  moderate.  Sometimes 
profuse  partial  sweats.  Laborious  respi- 
ration subsiding;  inspiration  less  deep. 
Artery  less  full.  Pulse  yielding.  Breath 
less  hot.  Gradual  and  progressive  disap- 
pearance of  the  crepitating  rale.  Slow 
return  of  the  resonance. 

Red  Hepatization.  —  Respiration  irre- 
gular and  interrupted. 


PLEURISY PNEUMONIA. 


193 


PLEURISY. 

Auscultation  and  Percussion. — Complete 
absence  of  the  respiratory  murmur,  with 
the  crepitating  wheezing  always  at  the 
bottom  of  the  chest ;  sometimes  a  gurgling 
noise.  Vesicular  respiration  very  strong 
in  the  upper  region  of  the  chest,  or  in  the 
sac  opposite  to  the  effusion. 

Continuance  of  the  Effusion.— Absence 
of  the  respiratory  murmur  gains  the  mid- 
dle region  of  the  chest,  following  the  level 
of  the  fluid.  These  symptoms  may  be 
found  on  only  one  side  ;  a  circumstance  of 
frequent  occurrence  in  the  dog,  but  rare  in 
other  animals.  The  respiratory  murmur 
increases  in  the  superior  region  of  the 
chest,  or  on  the  side  opposite  to  the  effu- 
sion. Inspiration  becomes  more  and  more 
prolonged.  Breath  always  cold.  Cough 
not  existing,  or  rarely,  and  always  sup- 
pressed and  interrupted.  Exercise  pro- 
ducing much  difficulty  of  respiration. 

Resolution,  or  He-absorption  of  the  ef- 
fused Fluid,  and  Organization  of  false 
Membrane,  the  consequence  of  Pleurisy. — 
Slow  but  progressive  re-appearance  of  the 
respiratory  murmur,  and  disappearance  of 
the  sounds  produced  by  the  fluid.  Dimi- 
nution of  the  force  of  the  respiratory  mur- 
mur in  the  superior  part  of  the  chest,  or  of 
the  lung  opposite  to  the  sac  in  which  the 
effusion  exists.  Gradual  return  of  the 
respiratory  murmur  to  the  inferior  part  of 
the  chest.  Inspiration  less  deep,  and  re- 
turning to  its  natural  state. 

Chronic  Pleurisy,  with  Hydrothorax. — 
Inspiration  always  deep,  expiration  short. 
Cough  dry,  sometimes  with  expectoration ; 
frequent  or  capricious ;  always  absence  of 
complete  respiratory  murmur  in  the  in- 
ferior portion  of  the  chest.  Sometimes 
the  gurgling  noise  during  inspiration  and 
expiration.  Strong  respiratory  murmur 
in  the  superior  portion.  In  dogs  these 
symptoms  sometimes  have  existence  only 
on  one  side  of  the  chest.  The  mucous 
membranes  are  infiltrated;  serous  infil- 
tration on  the  lower  part  of  the  chest  and 
belly;  sometimes  of  the  scrotum  or  the 
inferior  extremities ;  generally  of  the  fore 
legs.  The  animal  lies  down  frequently, 
and  dies  of  suffocation. 


PNEUMONIA. 

Auscultation  and  Percussion. — Circum- 
scribed absence  of  the  respiratory  murmur, 
without  any  determined  place,  in  one 
point,  or  in  many  distinct  parts  of  the 
lung.  The  respiratory  murmur  increased 
in  one  or  more  of  the  sound  parts  of  the 
lungs,  or  in  the  sound  lung  if  one  is  in- 
flamed. 

Passage  to  a  State  of  Gray  Indura- 
tion.— The  absence  of  respiratory  mur- 
mur indicates  extensive  hepatization  of 
one  lung;  a  circumstance,  however,  of 
rare  occurrence.  When  the  induration  is 
of  both  lungs,  and  equally  so,  the  respi- 
ratory murmur  and  the  inspiration  remain 
the  same,  except  that  they  become  irregu- 
lar. The  cough  dry  or  humid,  frequent, 
and  sometimes  varying.  Exercise  accom- 
panied by  difficulty  of  respiration,  without 
dyspnoea. 


Resolution  or  Re- absorption  of  the 
Products  of  Inflammation  of  the  Paren- 
chymatous  Substance  of  the  Lungs. — Di- 
minution of  the  force  of  the  respiratory 
murmur  in  the  sound  parts.  Cessation  of 
the  crepitating  wheezing.  Slow  return  of 
the  respiratory  murmur  where  it  had 
ceased.  Respiration  ceases  to  be  irregular 
or  interrupted,  and  returns  slowly  to  its 
natural  state,  or  it  remains  interrupted. 
This  indicates  the  passage  from  red  to 
gray  induration. 

Chronic  Pneumonia  —  (Gray  Indura- 
tion.) —  Inspiration  or  expiration  inter- 
rupted. Cough  unfrequent ;  suppressed  ; 
rarely  with  expectoration;  always  inter- 
rupted. Complete  absence  of  respiratory 
murmur. 

(Softening  of  the  Induration,  Vlcerations, 
Vomicce,  ffc.)  —  Mucous  and  wheezing ; 
mucous  rale  in  the  bronchial ;  discharge 
from  the  nostrils  of  purulent  matter, 
white,  gray,  or  black,  and  sometimes 
fetid.  Paleness  of  the  mucous  mem- 
branes. The  animal  seldom  lies  down, 
and  never  long  at  a  time.  Death  by  suf- 
focation, when  the  matter  proceeding  from 
the  vomicae,  or  abscesses,  obstructs  the 
bronchial  passages,  or  by  the  development 
of  an  acute  inflammation  engrafted  upon 
the  chronic  one. 


194  ANATOMY  AND  DISEASES  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  XII. 

ANATOMY  OF  THE  GULLET,  STOMACH,  AND  INTESTINES  I  TETANUS  ; 
ENTERITIS ;  PERITONITIS  ;  COLIC  ;  CALCULUS  IN  THE  INTES- 
TINES ;  INTUSSUSCEPTION  ;  DIARRHOEA  ;  DYSENTERY ;  COSTIVE- 
NESS  ;  DROPSY  ;  THE  LIVER  ;  JAUNDICE ;  THE  SPLEEN  AND 
PANCREAS  ;  INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  KIDNEY  ;  CALCULUS  ;  IN- 
FLAMMATION OF  THE  BLADDER;  RUPTURE  OF  THE  BLADDER; 

WORMS  ;    FISTULA  IN  THE  ANUS. 

THE  oesophagus,  or  gullet,  of  the  dog,  is  constructed  in  nearly  the  same 
manner  as  that  of  the  horse.  It  consists  of  a  similar  muscular  tube 
passing  down  the  neck  and  through  the  chest,  and  terminating  in  the 
stomach,  in  which  the  process  of  digestion  is  commenced.  The  orifice  by 
which  the  gullet  enters  the  stomach  is  termed  the  cardia,  probably  on 
account  of  its  neighbourhood  to  the  heart  or  its  sympathy  with  it.  It  is 
constantly  closed,  except  when  the  food  is  passing  through  it  into  the 
stomach. 

The  stomach  has  three  coats :  the  outermost,  which  is  the  common 
covering  of  all  the  intestines,  called  the  peritoneum ;  the  second  or  mus- 
cular coat,  consisting  of  two  layers  of  fibres,  by  which  a  constant  motion 
is  communicated  to  the  stomach,  mingling  the  food,  and  preparing  it  for 
digestion ;  and  the  mucous  or  villous,  where  the  work  of  digestion  properly 
commences,  the  mouths  of  numerous  little  vessels  opening  upon  it,  which 
exude  the  gastric  juice,  to  mix  with  the  food  already  softened,  and  to  con- 
vert it  into  a  fluid  called  the  chyme.  It  is  a  simpler  apparatus  than  in  the 
horse  or  in  cattle.  It  is  occasionally  the  primary  seat  of  inflammation ; 
and  it  almost  invariably  sympathises  with  the  affections  of  the  other  in- 
testines. 

The  successive  contractions  of  each  portion  of  the  stomach,  expose  by 
turns  every  portion  of  the  alimentary  mass  to  the  influence  of  the  gastric 
juice,  and  each  is  gradually  discharged  into  the  alimentary  canal. 

As  the  chyme  is  formed,  it  passes  out  of  the  other  orifice  of  the  stomach, 
and  enters  the  first  intestine  or  duodenum. 

It  may  be  naturally  supposed  that  this  process  will  occasionally  be  in- 
terrupted by  a  variety  of  circumstances.  Inflammation  of  the  stomach  of 
the  dog  is  very  difficult  to  deal  with.  It  is  produced  by  numerous  different 
causes.  There  is  great  and  long-continued  sickness:  even  the  most 
harmless  medicine  is  not  retained  on  the  stomach.  The  thirst  is  exces- 
sive ;  there  are  evident  indications  of  excessive  pain,  expressed  by  the 
countenance  and  by  groans :  there  is  a  singular  disposition  in  the  animal 
to  hide  himself  from  all  observation ;  an  indication  that  should  never  be 
neglected,  nor  the  frequent  change  from  heat  to  cold,  and  from  cold  to 
heat. 

The  mode  of  treatment  is  simple,  although  too  often  inefficient.     The 


GULLET,  STOMACH,  AND  INTESTINES.  195 

lancet  must  be  immediately  resorted  to,  and  the  bleeding  continued  until 
the  animal  seems  about  to  fall ;  and  to  this  should  quickly  succeed  repeated 
injections.  Two  or  three  drops  of  the  croton  oil  should  be  injected  twice 
or  thrice  in  the  day,  until  the  bowels  are  thoroughly  opened.  The  animal 
will  be  considerably  better,  or  the  disease  cured,  in  the  course  of  a  couple 
of  days. 

There  is  a  singular  aptitude  in  the  stomach  of  the  dog  to  eject  a  portion 
of  its  contents ;  but,  almost  immediately  afterwards,  the  food,  or  a  portion 
if  not  the  whole  of  it,  is  swallowed  again.  This  is  a  matter  of  daily 
occurrence.  There  is  a  coarse  rough  grass,  the  cynosurus  cristatus,  or 
crested  dog's-tail.  It  is  inferior  for  the  purposes  of  hay,  but  is  admirably 
suited  for  permanent  pastures.  It  remains  green  after  most  other  grasses 
are  burnt  by  a  continuance  of  dry  weather.  The  dog,  if  it  be  in  his 
power,  has  frequent  recourse  to  it,  especially  if  he  lives  mostly  in  a  town. 
The  dry  and  stimulating  food,  which  generally  falls  to  his  share,  produces 
an  irritation  of  his  stomach,  from  which  he  is  glad  to  free  himself;  and 
for  this  purpose  he  has  recourse  to  the  sharp  leaves  of  the  cynosurus. 
They  irritate  the  lining  membrane  of  the  stomach  and  intestines,  and  cause 
a  portion  of  the  food  to  be  occasionally  evacuated ;  acting  either  as  an 
emetic  or  a  purgative,  or  both.  They  seem  to  be  designed  by  nature  to 
be  substituted  for  the  calomel  and  tartar  emetic,  and  other  drugs,  which 
are  far  too  often  introduced. 

An  interesting  case  of  the  retention  of  a  sharp  instrument  in  the  stomach 
is  related  by  Mr.  Kent  of  Bristol. 

On  the  23rd  of  February,  Mr.  Harford,  residing  in  Bristol,  when  feeding 
a  pointer-dog,  happened  to  let  the  fork  tumble  with  the  flesh,  and  the  dog 
swallowed  them  both.  On  the  following  morning,  Mr.  Kent  was  desired  to 
see  the  animal ;  and,  although  he  could  feel  the  projection  of  the  fork  out- 
wardly, which  convinced  him  that  the  dog  had  in  reality  swallowed  it,  yet, 
as  he  appeared  well,  and  exhibited  no  particular  symptoms  of  pain  or  fever, 
Mr.  Kent  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  there  was  a  possibility  that  he  might 
survive  the  danger,  and  the  animal  was  sent  to  him,  in  order  to  be  more  im- 
mediately under  his  care.  The  treatment  he  adopted  was,  to  feed  him  on 
cow's  liver,  with  a  view  to  keep  the  stomach  distended  and  the  bowels  open  ; 
and  he  gave  him  three  times  a  day  half  a  pint  of  water,  with  sufficient  sul- 
phuric acid  to  make  it  rather  strongly  sour  to  the  human  tongue,  with  the 
intention  of  assisting  the  stomach  in  dissolving  the  iron. 

On  the  following  Sunday,  the  skin,  at  the  projecting  point,  began  to  ex- 
hibit some  indication  of  ulceration ;  and  on  Monday  a  prong  of  the  fork 
might  be  touched  with  the  point  of  the  finger,  when  pressed  on  the  ulcer. 
Mr.  Kent  then  determined  on  making  an  effort  to  extract  the  fork  on  the 
following  morning,  which  he  accordingly  did,  and  with  but  little  difficulty, 
assisted  by  a  medical  friend  of  the  owner.  The  dog  was  still  fed  on  cow's 
liver ;  his  appetite  remained  good,  and  with  very  little  medical  treatment 
the  external  wound  healed.  The  animal  improved  rapidly  in  flesh  during 
the  whole  time.  He  left  the  infirmary  in  perfect  health,  and  remained  so, 
with  one  inconvenience  only,  a  very  bad  cough,  and  his  being  obliged  to 
lie  at  length,  being  unable  to  coil  himself  up  in  his  usual  way. 

The  fork  was  a  three-pronged  one,  six  and  a  half  inches  long.  The 
handle,  which  was  of  ivory,  was  digested :  it  was  quite  gone  ;  and  either 
the  gastric  fluid  or  the  acid,  or  both  conjointly,  had  made  a  very  apparent 
impression  on  the  iron. 

o  2 


196  DISEASES  OF  THE  STOMACH. 

Dogs  occasionally  swallow  various  strange  and  unnatural  substances. 
Considerable  quantities  of  hair  are  sometimes  accumulated  in  the  stomach. 
Half-masticated  pieces  of  straw  are  ejected.  Straw  mingled  with  dung 
is  a  too  convincing  proof  of  rabies.  Dog-grass  is  found  irritating  the 
stomach,  or  in  too  great  quantities  to  be  ejected,  while  collections  of 
earth  and  dung  sometimes  threaten  suffocation.  Pieces  of  money  are  oc- 
casionally found,  and  lead,  and  sponge.  Various  species  of  polypus  irri- 
tate the  coats  of  the  stomach.  Portions  of  chalk,  or  stone,  or  condensed 
matters  adhere  to  each  other,  and  masses  of  strange  consistence  and  form 
are  collected.  The  size  which  they  assume  increases  more  and  more.  M. 
Galy  relates  an  extraordinary  account  of  a  dog.  It  was  about  three  years 
old  when  a  tumour  began  to  be  perceived  in  the  flank.  Some  sharp-pointed 
substance  was  felt ;  the  veterinary  surgeon  cut  down  upon  it,  and  a  piece 
of  iron,  six  inches  in  length,  was  drawn  out. 

The  following  fact  was  more  extraordinary :  it  is  related  by  M. 
Noiret.  A  hound  swallowed  a  bone,  which  rested  in  the  superior  part 
of  the  oesophagus,  behind  the  pharynx,  and  caused  the  most  violent 
efforts  to  get  rid  of  it.  The  only  means  by  which  it  could  be  made  to  de- 
scend into  the  stomach  was  by  pushing  it  with  the  handle  of  a  fork, 
which,  escaping  from  the  hand  of  the  operator,  followed  the  bone  into 
the  stomach.  Two  months  afterwards,  on  examining  the  stomach,  the 
fork  was  plainly  felt  lying  in  a  longitudinal  direction,  parallel  with 
the  position  of  the  body ;  the  owner  of  the  dog  wishing  mechanically 
to  accelerate  the  expulsion  of  this  body,  endeavoured  to  push  it  back- 
wards with  his  hands.  When  it  was  drawn  as  far  back  as  possible,  he 
inserted  two  fingers  into  the  anus,  and  succeeded  in  getting  hold  of  the 
handle,  which  he  drew  out  nearly  an  inch  ;  but,  in  order  to  be  enabled  fully 
to  effect  his  object,  it  was  necessary  to  make  an  incision  into  the  rectum, 
and  free  the  substance  from  every  obstacle  that  could  retain  it.  This  he 
did  not  venture  to  do,  and  he  was  therefore  compelled  to  allow  the  fork  to 
pass  back  into  its  former  position. 

About  three  months  after  the  accident,  M.  Noiret  made  an  incision, 
three  inches  from  above  to  below,  and  the  same  from  the  front  backwards. 
He  also  made  an  incision  through  the  muscular  tissue.  Having  arrived  at 
the  peritoneum,  he  made  another  incision,  through  which  he  drew  from  the 
abdomen  a  part  of  the  floating  portion  of  the  large  intestines,  and  intro- 
duced his  fingers  into  the  abdominal  cavity.  He  seized  the  handle  of  the 
fork,  which  was  among  the  viscera,  and  free  about  half  way  down,  and 
drew  it  carefully  towards  the  opening  made  in  the  flank.  The  other  half 
of  the  fork  was  found  to  be  closely  enveloped  by  the  origin  of  the  meso- 
colon,  which  was  red,  hard,  and  inflamed.  The  operator  freed  it  by  cutting 
through  the  tissues  which  held  the  fork,  and  then  drew  it  easily  out.  The 
animal  was  submitted  to  a  proper  course  of  treatment,  and  in  three  weeks 
afterwards  was  perfectly  cured. 

The  food  having  been  converted  into  chyme  by  the  digestive  power  of 
the  stomach,  soon  undergoes  another  and  very  important  change.  It,  or 
a  portion  of  it,  is  converted  into  chyle.  It  is  mixed  with  the  bile  and  a 
secretion  from  the  pancreas  in  the  duodenum.  The  white  thick  liquid  is 
separated,  and  contains  the  nutritive  part  of  the  food,  and  a  yellow  pulpy 
substance  is  gradually  changed  into  excrement.  As  these  substances  pass 
on,  the  separation  between  them  becomes  more  and  more  complete.  The 
chyle  is  gradually  taken  up  by  the  lacteals,  and  the  excrement  alone  remains. 


TETANUS.  197 

The  next  of  the  small  intestines  is  the  jejunum,  so  called  from  its 
being  generally  empty.  It  is  smaller  in  bulk  than  the  duodenum,  and  the 
chyme  passes  rapidly  through  it. 

Next  in  the  list  is  the  ileum ;  but  it  is  difficult  to  say  where  the  jejunum 
terminates  and  the  ileum  commences,  except  that  the  latter  is  usually  one 
fifth  longer  than  the  former. 

At  the  termination  of  the  ileum  the  ccecum  makes  its  appearance,  with 
a  kind  of  valvular  opening  into  it,  of  such  a  nature  that  everything  that 
passes  along  it  having  reached  the  blind  or  closed  end  must  return  in 
order  to  escape ;  or  rather  the  office  of  the  caecum  is  to  permit  certain 
alimentary  matters  and  all  fluids  to  pass  from  the  ileum,  but  to  oppose 
their  return. 

The  colon  is  an  intestine  of  very  large  size,  being  one  of  the  most 
capacious,  as  well  as  one  of  the  longest,  of  the  large  intestines.  It  com- 
mences at  the  caecum  caput  coli,  and  soon  expands  into  a  cavity  of  greater 
dimensions  than  even  that  of  the  stomach  itself.  Having  attained  this 
singular  bulk,  it  begins  to  contract,  and  continues  to  do  so  during  its 
course  round  the  caecum,  until  it  has  completed  its  second  flexure,  where 
it  grows  so  small  as  scarcely  to  exceed  in  calibre  one  of  the  small  intes- 
tines ;  and,  though,  from  about  the  middle  of  this  turn  it  again  swells  out 
by  degrees,  it  never  afterwards  acquires  its  former  capaciousness;  indeed, 
previously  to  its  junction  with  the  rectum,  it  once  more  materially  differs 
in  size. 

At  the  upper  part  of  the  margin  of  the  pelvis  the  colon  terminates  in 
the  rectum,  which  differs  from  the  caecum  and  colon  by  possessing  only  a 
partial  peritoneal  covering,  and  being  destitute  of  bands  and  cells.  It 
enlarges  towards  its  posterior  extremity,  and  is  furnished  with  a  circular 
muscle,  the  sphincter  ani ;  adapted  to  preserve  the  anus  closed,  and  to 
retain  the  feculent  matter  until  so  much  of  it  is  accumulated  in  the  rectum 
as  to  excite  a  desire  to  discharge  it. 

« 

TETANUS, 

a  disease  of  great  fatality,  often  depends  upon  the  condition  of  the  stomach ; 
but  it  is  not  frequent  in  dogs. 

Why  the  dog  is  so  little  subject  to  tetanus,  or  lock-jaw,  I  am  unable 
to  explain.  Sportsmen  say  that  it  sometimes  attacks  him  when,  being 
heated  in  the  chace,  he  plunges  into  the  water  after  the  stag.  The  French 
give  it  the  name  of  mal  de  cerf,  from  stags  being  supposed  to  be  attacked 
in  a  similar  way,  and  from  the  same  cause.  In  the  course  of  nearly  forty 
years'  practice,  I  have  seen  but  four  cases  of  it.  The  first  arose  from  a 
wound  in  the  foot.  The  cause  of  the  second  I  could  not  learn.  In  both 
the  spasmodic  action  was  dreadful  as  well  as  universal.  The  dogs  lay  on 
their  sides,  the  neck  and  legs  stretched  out,  and  the  upper  legs  kept  some 
inches  from  the  ground  by  the  intensity  of  the  spasm.  They  might  be 
taken  up  by  either  leg,  and  not  a  portion  of  the  frame  change  its  direction. 
At  the  same  time,  in  their  countenance,  and  by  their  hoarse  cries,  they 
indicated  the  torture  which  they  endured. 

In  the  third  case,  which  occurred  12th  June,  1822,  the  head  was  drawn 
permanently  on  one  side,  and  the  whole  body  formed  a  kind  of  bow,  the 
dog.  walking  curiously  sideways,  often  falling  as  it  walked,  and  frequently 
screaming  violently.  I  ordered  him  to  be  well  rubbed  with  an  ammoniacal 


198  TETANUS. 

liniment,  and  balls  of  tonic  and  purging  medicine  to  be  given  twice  in  the 
day.  The  dog  gradually  recovered,  and  was  dismissed  cured  on  the  20th. 

On  the  1 6th  November,  in  the  same  year,  a  bull-terrier  had  a  similar 
complaint.  He  had  been  tried  in  the  pit  a  fortnight  before,  and  severely 
injured,  and  the  pain  and  stiffness  of  his  joints  were  increasing.  The  head 
was  now  permanently  drawn  on  one  side.  The  dog  was  unable  to  stand 
even  for  a  moment,  and  the  eyes  were  in  a  state  of  spasmodic  motion.  He 
was  a  most  savage  brute ;  but  I  attempted  to  manage  him,  and,  by  the 
assistance  of  the  owner,  contrived  to  bleed  him,  and  to  give  him  a  physic- 
ball.  At  the  same  time  I  advised  that  he  should  be  destroyed. 

His  master  would  not  consent  to  this  ;  and,  as  the  dog  occasionally  ate  a 
little,  we  contrived  to  give  a  grain  each  of  calomel  and  opium  every  sixth 
hour.  In  the  course  of  three  days  he  was  materially  recovered.  He 
could  stand ;  but  was  exceedingly  weak.  I  ordered  the  calomel  to  be 
omitted,  but  the  opium  to  be  continued.  Three  days  afterwards  he  was 
sent  into  the  country,  and,  as  I  heard,  perfectly  recovered. 

The  following  is  a  very  interesting  case  of  tetanus,  detailed  by  M.  De- 
beaux,  of  the  Royal  French  Chasseurs  : 

A  favourite  dog  was  missing.  Four  days  had  passed,  and  no  intelli- 
gence could  be  obtained  with  regard  to  him  until  he  returned  home  fatigued 
and  half-starved.  He  had  probably  been  stolen.  In  the  excess  of  their 
joy,  the  owners  crammed  him  with  meat  until  he  became  strangely  ill. 
His  throat  was  filled  with  froth,  the  pupils  of  his  eyes  were  dilated,  the 
conjunctiva  was  strongly  injected,  his  neck  was  spasmodically  contracted, 
and  the  spine  of  the  back  was  bowed,  and  most  highly  sensible  to  the  touch. 
M.  Debeaux  was  sent  for :  it  was  an  hour  before  he  could  attend.  The 
dog  was  lying  on  his  belly ;  the  four  limbs  were  extended  and  stiff.  He 
uttered  the  most  dreadful  and  prolonged  howling  every  two  or  three 
minutes.  The  surgeon  ordered  the  application  of  a  dozen  leeches  to  the 
chest  and  belly ;  laxative  medicines  were  given,  and  embrocations  applied 
to  the  spine  and  back. 

Three  days  passed  and  the  symptoms  evidently  augmented.  The  excre- 
ment was  dark  and  fetid,  and  the  conjunctiva  had  a  strong  yellow  tint. 
Leeches  were  again  employed ;  emollient  lotions  and  aperient  medicines 
were  resorted  to.  The  sensibility  of  the  spine  and  back  was  worse  than 
ever ;  the  animal  lay  on  his  belly,  stretching  out  his  four  limbs,  his  neck 
fixed,  his  jaws  immovable,  his  voice  hoarse,  and  he  was  utterly  unable  to 
move. 

The  bathings,  lotions,  and  aperients  were  continued,  with  very  few  in- 
termissions until  the  14th  day,  when  the  muscles  began  to  be  a  little  re- 
laxed ;  but  he  cried  whenever  he  was  touched.  On  the  15th,  for  the  first 
time,  he  began  to  eat  a  little,  and  his  natural  voice  returned ;  still,  however, 
the  spasms  occasionally  appeared,  but  very  much  mitigated,  and  on  the  20th 
the  pain  had  entirely  ceased. 

On  the  5th  of  the  next  month  he  travelled  two  leagues  with  his  master. 
It  was  cold,  and  the  snow  fell.  On  his  reaching  home,  all  the  horrible 
spasms  returned,  and  it  was  eleven  days  before  he  was  completely  cured. a 

Mr.  Blaine  gives  the  following  account  of  his  experience  of  this  disease  : 
"  It  is  remarkable,  that  although  dogs  are  subject  to  various  spasmodic 
affections,  yet  they  are  so  little  subject  to  lock-jaw  that  I  never  met  with 

•  Tetanus  observed  on  a  Dog,  by  M.  Debeaux,— Pract.  Med.  Ve't.  1829,  p.  543. 


ENTERITIS.  199 

more  than  three  cases  of  it  among  many  thousands  of  diseased  dogs.  Two 
of  these  cases  were  idiopathic ;  one  being  apparently  occasioned  by  exposure 
to  cold  air  all  night ;  in  the  other  the  cause  was  obscure.  The  third  was  of 
that  kind  called  sympathetic,  and  arose  from  extreme  injury  done  to  one  of 
the  feet.  In  each  of  these  cases  the  convulsive  spasm  was  extreme,  and 
the  rigidity  universal  but  not  intense.  In  one  case  the  jaw  was  only  par- 
tially locked.  Both  warm  and  cold  bathings  were  tried.  Large  doses  of 
opium  and  camphor  were  given  by  the  mouth,  and  also  thrown  up  in 
clysters.  The  spine  of  one  was  blistered.  Stimulating  frictions  were  ap- 
plied to  all,  but  in  neither  case  with  any  salutary  effect."  a 

ENTERITIS. 

Enteritis,  or  inflammation  of  the  intestines,  is  a  disease  to  which  dogs 
are  very  liable.  It  may  be  produced  by  the  action  of  several  causes.  The 
intestines  of  the  dog  are  peculiarly  irritable,  and  subject  to  take  on  inflam- 
matory action,  and  this  tendency  is  often  much  increased  by  the  artificial 
life  which  they  lead.  It  is  a  very  frequent  complaint  among  those  dogs  that 
are  much  petted.  A  cold  temperature  is  also  a  common  cause  of  disease  in 
these  dogs. 

I  was  consulted  with  regard  to  a  dog  who  was  hiding  himself  in  a  cold, 
dark  corner,  paved  with  stone.  Every  now  and  then  he  lifted  his  head  and 
uttered  a  howl  closely  resembling  that  of  a  rabid  dog.  He  fixed  his  gaze 
intently  upon  me,  with  a  peculiarity  of  expression  which  many  would  have 
mistaken  for  rabid.  They,  however,  who  have  had  the  opportunity  of 
seeing  many  of  these  cases  will  readily  perceive  the  difference.  The  con- 
junctiva is  not  so  red,  the  pupil  is  not  so  dilated,  and  the  dog  appears  to 
implore  pity  and  not  to  menace  evil. 

In  this  state,  if  the  dog  is  approached,  he  will  not  permit  himself  to  be 
touched  until  he  be  convinced  that  no  harm  is  intended.  A  peculiar 
slowness  attends  each  motion ;  his  cries  are  frequent  and  piteous ;  his 
belly  hot  and  tender ;  two  cords,  in  many  cases,  seem  to  run  longitudinally 
from  the  chest  to  the  pubis,  and  on  these  he  cannot  bear  the  slightest 
pressure.  He  abhors  all  food  ;  but  his  thirst  for  water,  and  particularly 
cold  water,  is  extreme ;  he  frequently  looks  round  at  his  flanks,  and  the 
lingering  gaze  is  terminated  by  a  cry  or  groan.  In  the  majority  of  cases 
there  is  considerable  costiveness ;  but,  in  others,  the  bowels  are  freely  opened 
from  the  beginning. 

The  peritoneal  inflammation  is  sometimes  pure,  but  oftener  involves 
the  muscular  coat  of  the  intestines.  Its  prevailing  cause  is  exposure  to 
cold,  especially  after  fatigue,  or  lying  on  the  wet  stones  or  grass.  Now 
and  then  it  is  the  result  of  neglected  rheumatism,  especially  in  old  and 
petted  dogs. 

The  treatment  is  simple.  Bleed  until  the  pulse  falters,  put  the  animal 
in  a  warm  bath,  and  let  the  belly  be  gently  rubbed  while  the  dog  is  in  the 
water,  and  well  fomented  afterwards  ;  the  drink  should  consist  of  warm 
broth,  or  warm  milk  and  water.  The  bleeding  should  be  repeated,  if  little 
or  unsatisfactory  relief  is  obtained ;  and  the  examination  of  the  rectum  with 
the  finger,  and  the  removal  of  any  hardened  faeces  that  may  have  accumu- 
lated there,  and  the  cautious  use  of  enemata,  neither  too  stimulating  nor  too 

»  Elaine's  Canine  Pathology,  p.  151. 


200  DISEASES  OF  THE  INTESTINES. 

forcibly  injected,  should  be  resorted  to.  No  medicine  should  be  employed 
until  the  most  urgent  symptoms  are  abated.  Castor  oil,  the  mildest  of  our 
purgatives — syrup  of  buckthorn  assisting  the  purgative  property  of  the  oil, 
and  containing  in  its  composition  as  much  stimulating  power  as  is  safe — 
and  the  spirit  of  white  poppies — the  most  convenient  anodyne  to  mingle  with 
the  other  medicines — will  generally  be  successful  in  allaying  the  irritation 
already  existing,  and  preventing  the  development  of  more.  Even  this  must 
not  be  given  in  too  large  quantities,  and  the  effect  must  be  assisted  by  a  re- 
petition of  the  enemata  every  fifth  or  sixth  hour.  On  examination  after 
death  the  nature  of  the  disease  is  sufficiently  evident :  the  peritoneum,  or 
portions  of  it,  is  highly  injected  with  blood,  the  veins  are  turgid,  the 
muscular  membrane  corrugated  and  hardened,  while  often  the  mucous 
membrane  displays  not  a  trace  of  disease.  In  violent  cases,  however,  the 
whole  of  the  intestines  exhibit  evidence  of  inflammation. 

I  was  much  gratified  a  few  years  ago  in  witnessing  the  decided  manner 
in  which  Professor  Spooner  expressed  himself  with  regard  to  the  treat- 
ment of  enteritis  in  the  dog.  "  I  should  deem  it  advisable,"  said  he, 
"  to  administer  a  purgative  ;  but  of  what  would  that  consist  ?  Calomel  ? 
Certainly  not.  I  was  surprised  to  hear  one  gentleman  assert  that  he  should 
administer  it  to  the  extent  of  from  five  to  ten  grains,  and  another  to  say 
that  he  should  not  hesitate  to  exhibit  a  scruple  of  calomel  to  a  dog,  and  to 
all  carnivorous  animals.  I  should  never  think  of  exhibiting  it  as  a  cathartic. 
I  should  only  administer  it  in  small  doses,  and  for  the  purpose  of  producing 
its  specific  effect  on  the  liver,  which  is  the  peculiar  property  of  this  drug. 
Given  in  larger  doses  it  would  not  be  retained,  and  if  it  got  into  the  intes- 
tines it  would  act  as  a  powerful  drastic  purgative."  a 

In  our  treatment  of  the  horse  we  have  got  rid  of  a  great  proportion  of 
the  destructive  urine-balls  and  drastic  purgatives  of  the  farrier.  The 
cow  is  no  longer  drenched  with  half-a-dozen  deleterious  stimulants.  A 
most  desirable  change  has  been  effected  in  the  medical  treatment  of  these 
animals.  Let  us  not,  with  regard  to  the  dog,  continue  to  pursue  the 
destructive  course  of  the  keeper  or  the  huntsman. 

The  following  case  of  enteritis,  with  rupture  of  the  colon,  may  be 
useful : — 

On  March  15,  1840,  I  was  requested  to  attend  a  large  dog  of  the  bull 
breed,  three  years  old,  who  had  not  appeared  to  be  well  during  the  last  four 
or  five  days. 

I  had  scarcely  arrived  ere  I  recognised  it  to  be  a  case  of  enteritis.  He  had 
a  dreadful  shivering  fit,  to  which  succeeded  heat  of  the  skin  and  restlessness. 
The  muzzle  was  dry  and  hot,  as  also  was  the  tongue.  The  eyes  were  sunken 
and  redder  than  usual ;  the  breathing  was  accelerated,  but  not  very  labori- 
ous ;  the  extremities  were  cold,  while  the  surface  of  the  body  was  hot  and 
painful  to  the  touch.  The  bowels  were  constipated,  and  had  been  so 
during  the  last  week ;  some  dung  however  was  evacuated,  but  it  was  hard 
and  dry,  and  in  small  quantities.  The  pulse  was  quick,  but  full ;  and 
there  was  a  slight  pain  and  considerable  irritation  in  the  rectum.  I  took 
from  him  5x.  of  blood  before  the  desired  effect  was  produced,  and  then  gave 
him  tinct.  opii  gr.xiv.,  et  spt.  ether,  nit.  gutt.  viij.,  cum  ol.  ricini  jiij.,  and 
an  opiate  enema  to  allay  the  irritation  of  the  rectum.  This  was  about  8 
o'clock  A.M. 

a  Proceedings  of  the  Veterinary  Medical  Association,  1839-40. 


ENTERITIS.  201 

11  A.M. — The  bowels  have  not  been  moved,  and  the  pain  is  more 
intense  ;  his  countenance  expresses  great  anxiety  ;  he  frequently  lies  on  his 
stomach,  and  the  pulse  is  small  but  quick.  I  gave  him  a  little  broth,  and 
ordered  the  abdomen  to  be  fomented  with  hot  flannels. 

2  P.M. — He  has  had  distressing  sickness,  and  is  extremely  anxious  for 
water.  I  introduced  my  finger  into  the  rectum  ;  but  could  not  discover  any 
hardened  faeces.  Enemata,  composed  of  mag.  sulphas  and  warm  water, 
were  frequently  thrown  into  the  intestines ;  as  soon  as  one  came  away 
another  was  thrown  up. 

4.  P.M. — No  better  :  gave  him  pulv.  aloes  3j. ;  calomel,  gr.  vj.  et  pulv. 
opii  gr.  viij.  The  fomentations  to  be  continued,  and  the  abdomen  rubbed 
with  a  lin.  terebinthinae. 

5  P.M. — A  great  change  has  taken  place  within  the  last  hour ;  the  hind 
extremities  are  paralysed  ;  the  mouth  and  ears  are  cold  ;  the  pulse  is  more 
hurried  and  irregular,  and  almost  imperceptible ;  the  respiration  is  labo- 
rious and  irregular,  as  is  the  pulse  ;  and  the  dog  is  frequently  sick.     To 
be  kept  quiet. 

6  P.M. — Another  change  ;  he  lies  panting  and  groaning  piteously  ;  his 
limbs  are  bathed  in  sweat,  with  convulsive  struggles.     At  twenty  minutes 
past  six  he  died. 

A  post-mortem  examination  presented  general  marks  of  inflammation  ; 
the  small  intestines  were  extremely  red,  while  the  large  ones  were  in  a 
gangrenous  state  and  most  offensive,  with  a  rupture  of  the  colon.  I  did  not 
expect  to  meet  with  the  rupture,  and  am  at  a  loss  to  account  for  it.  The 
liver  was  of  a  pale  ashen  colour  and  very  light.  I  put  a  piece  of  it  into 
some  water  and  it  floated  on  the  surface.  The  other  contents  of  the  ab- 
domen did  not  show  the  slightest  appearance  of  disease. 

September  2nd,  1843. — A  black  pug-bitch,  18  months  old,  was  yester- 
day taken  violently  sick  ;  the  vomiting  continued  at  intervals  the  greater 
part  of  the  day,  and  she  had  not  eaten  during  the  last  24  hours.  I  could 
not  possibly  get  at  her  on  account  of  her  ferocity  :  as  she  had  not  had 
the  distemper,  and,  as  I  was  misled  by  her  age  and  the  watery  discharge 
from  her  eyes,  and,  as  she  had  had  several  motions  yesterday,  I  imagined 
that  the  attack  might  be  the  beginning  of  that  disease.  Learning  that 
she  was  fond  of  sweet  things,  I  prepared  an  emetic  containing  a  grain  of 
calomel  and  a  grain  of  tartar  emetic  :  she  took  it  readily,  and  I  promised 
to  call  on  the  following  day. 

Sept.  3.  The  weakness  at  the  eyes  had  disappeared,  but  there  had  been 
no  motion.  On  getting  at  her  by  main  force  I  found  her  belly  very  tense 
and  rather  hot :  she  had  again  been  sick,  was  very  eager  for  water,  and  still 
refused  to  eat.  The  disease  was  now  evident.  As  she  appeared  too  un- 
manageable for  anything  else,  I  produced  a  physic-ball,  in  giving  which 
I  was  bitten. 

Six  hours  afterwards  I  again  went :  no  faeces  had  passed :  I  administered 
two  enemas,  the  second  of  which  was  returned  with  a  small  quantity  of 
hardened  faeces  and  an  intolerable  smell.  I  ordered  the  water  to  be  re- 
moved, and  broth  to  be  substituted. 

Sept.  4.  The  dog  is  in  good  spirits,  has  eaten  heartily,  and  had  no 
motion,  probably  because  it  was  habitually  cleanly,  and  had  not  been  taken 
out  of  doors.  Her  owner  considered  her  as  quite  well,  and  dismissed  me. 
Three  days  afterwards  a  servant  came  to  say  that  all  was  going  on  very 
well. 


202  DISEASES  OF  THE  INTESTINES. 


PERITONITIS. 

Chronic  inflammation  of  the  peritoneal  membrane  is  a  frequent  disease 
among  dogs.  The  animal  loses  his  appetite  and  spirits :  he  sometimes  eats  a 
little  and  sometimes  not ;  he  becomes  thin,  his  belly  is  tucked  up,  and 
when  we  closely  examine  him  we  find  it  contracted  and  hard,  and  those 
longitudinal  columns  of  which  I  have  already  spoken  are  peculiarly  dense 
and  almost  unyielding.  He  now  and  then  utters  a  half-suppressed  whine, 
and  he  occasionally  seeks  to  hide  himself.  In  the  greater  number  of  cases 
he  after  a  while  recovers  ;  but  he  too  often  pines  away  and  dies.  On  examina- 
tion after  death  the  case  is  plain  enough.  There  is  inflammation  of  the 
peritoneal  membrane,  more  indicated  by  undue  congestion  of  the  bowels 
than  by  the  general  blush  of  the  membrane.  The  inflammation  has  now 
spread  to  the  muscular  coat,  and  the  whole  of  the  intestine  is  corrugated 
and  thickened. 

There  is  another  peritoneal  affection,  aggravated  by  combination  with 
a  rheumatic  tendency,  to  which  the  dog  is  more  disposed  than  any  other 
domesticated  animal.  It  has  its  most  frequent  origin  in  cold,  or  being 
too  much  fed  on  stimulating  and  acrid  food,  and  probably  from  other 
causes  which  have  not  yet  been  sufficiently  developed. 

Here  also  no  drastic  purgative  is  to  be  admitted ;  it  would  be  adding 
fuel  to  fire :  not  a  grain  of  calomel  should  be  used  if  the  life  of  the  animal 
is  valued.  The  castor  oil  mixture  will  afford  the  most  certain  relief,  a 
drop  or  two  of  the  oil  of  peppermint  being  added  to  it. 

COLIC. 

The  dog  is  also  subject  to  fits  of  colic,  principally  to  be  traced  to 
improper  food,  or  a  sudden  change  of  food,  or  exposure  to  cold.  This  is 
particularly  the  case  with  puppies.  There  is  no  redness  of  the  eye,  no  heat 
of  the  mouth,  no  quickened  respiration  ;  but  the  animal  labours  under  fits 
of  pain.  He  is  not  quiet  for  a  minute.  He  gets  into  one  corner  and 
another,  curling  himself  closely  up,  but  he  does  not  lie  there  more  than  a 
minute  or  two ;  another  fit  of  pain  comes  on  ;  he  utters  his  peculiar  yelp, 
and  seeks  some  new  place  in  which  he  may  possibly  find  rest. 

It  is  with  considerable  diffidence  that  I  offer  an  opinion  on  this  subject 
contrary  to  that  of  Mr.  Elaine.  He  states  that  the  treatment  of  this 
species  of  colic  is  seldom  successful,  and  that  which  has  seemed  the  most 
efficacious  has  been  mercurial  purgatives :  namely,  calomel  one  grain,  aloes 
a  scruple,  and  opium  a  quarter  of  a  grain,  until  the  bowels  are  opened.  I 
have  seldom  found  much  difficulty  in  relieving  the  patient  suffering  under 
this  affection ;  and  I  gave  no  aloes  nor  calomel,  but  the  oleaginous  mixture 
to  which  I  have  so  often  referred.  I  should  not  so  much  object  to  the 
aloes,  for  they  constitute  an  excellent  purgative  for  the  dog ;  nor  to  a 
dog  that  I  was  preparing  for  work,  or  that  was  suffering  from  worms, 
should  I  object  to  two  or  three  grains  of  calomel  intimately  mixed  with 
the  aloes:  from  the  combined  effect  of  the  two  some  good  might 
be  obtained. 

CALCULUS  IN  THE  INTESTINES. 

Many  persons  have  a  very  foolish  custom  of  throwing  stones,  that  their 
dogs  may  dive  or  run  after  them,  and  bring  them  to  their  owner's  feet : 


CALCULUS — INTUSSUSCEPTION.  203 

the  consequence  is,  that  their  teeth  are  soon  worn  down,  and  there  are 
too  many  cases  on  record  in  which  the  stone  has  been  swallowed.  It  has 
been  impeded  in  its  progress  through  the  intestinal  canal,  inflammation 
has  ensued,  arid  the  animal  has  been  lost,  after  having  suffered  the  most 
dreadful  torture. 

Professor  Simonds  relates  a  case  in  which  a  dog  was  thus  destroyed. 
The  animal  for  some  days  previous  to  his  admission  into  the  hospital  had 
refused  his  food,  and  there  was  obstinate  constipation  of  the  bowels,  to 
remove  which  aperient  medicine  had  been  given.  The  pulse  was  acce- 
lerated, there  was  distension  of  the  abdomen  with  evident  tenderness  on 
pressure,  the  extremities  were  cold,  no  faeces  were  voided,  and  he  occa- 
sionally vomited.  Some  aperient  medicine  was  given,  which  was  retained 
on  the  stomach,  and  enemas  and  external  stimulants  were  resorted  to,  but 
two  days  afterwards  he  died. 

The  intestines  were  examined,  and  the  offending  body  was  found  to  be  a 
common  pebble.  The  dog  had  long  been  accustomed  to  fetch  stones  out 
of  the  water.  One  of  these  stones  had  passed  through  the  stomach  into 
the  intestines,  and,  after  proceeding  some  distance  along  them,  had  been 
impacted  there.  The  inflammation  was  most  intense  so  far  as  the  stone 
had  gone  ;  but  in  the  part  of  the  intestine  to  which  it  had  not  reached 
there  was  not  any.  This  was  an  interesting  and  instructive  case,  and 
should  make  its  due  impression. 

Another  account  of  the  strange  contents  of  the  intestines  of  a  bitch  may 
be  here  introduced. 

A  valuable  pointer-bitch  was  sent  to  the  infirmary  of  Mr.  Godwin  of 
Lichfield.  She  presented  a  very  emaciated  appearance,  and  had  done  so 
for  four  or  five  months.  Her  evacuations  for  a  day  or  two  were  very 
thin  and  copious,  and  afterwards  for  several  days  nothing  was  passed. 
When  pressing  the  abdomen  with  both  hands,  a  hard  substance  was  dis- 
tinctly felt  in  the  inferior  part  of  the  umbilical  region.  She  was  destroyed, 
and,  upon  post-mortem  examination,  a  calculus  was  discovered  in  the 
ileum  about  the  size  and  shape  of  a  hen's  egg,  the  nucleus  of  which  was  a 
portion  of  hair.  The  coats  of  the  intestines  were  considerably  thickened 
and  enlarged,  so  as  to  form  a  kind  of  sac  for  its  retention.  Anterior  to 
this  was  another  substance,  consisting  of  a  ball  of  hair,  covered  with  a 
layer  of  earthy  matter  about  the  eighth  of  an  inch  thick,  and  next  to  this 
another  ball  of  hair  of  less  dimensions,  intermixed  with  a  gritty  substance. 
The  stomach  contained  a  large  quantity  of  hair,  and  a  portion  of  the 
omentum,  about  the  size  of  a  crown  piece,  was  thickly  studded  with  small 
white  calculi,  the  largest  about  the  size  of  a  pea,  and  exceedingly  hard. 

INTUSSUSCEPTION. 

If  peritonitis — inflammation — is  neglected,  or  drastic  purgatives  are  too 
often  and  too  plentifully  administered,  a  peculiar  contraction  of  the  mus- 
cular membrane  of  the  intestine  takes  place,  and  one  portion  of  the  bowel 
is  received  within  another — there  is  intussusception.  In  most  cases,  a 
portion  of  the  anterior  intestine  is  received  into  that  which  is  posterior 
to  it.  Few  of  us  have  opened  a  dog  that  had  been  labouring  under  this 
peculiar  affection  without  being  struck  with  the  collapsed  state  of  the 
canal  in  various  parts,  and  in  some  much  more  than  in  others.  Immedi- 
ately posterior  to  this  collapsed  portion,  it  is  widened  to  a  considerable 


204  DISEASES  OF  THE  INTESTINES. 

extent.  The  peristaltic  motion  of  the  intestine  goes  on,  and  the  conse- 
quence is,  that  the  constricted  portion  is  received  into  that  which  is 
widened,  the  anterior  portion  is  invaginated  in  the  posterior :  obstruction 
of  the  intestinal  passage  is  the  necessary  consequence,  and  the  animal  dies, 
either  from  the  general  disturbance  of  the  system  which  ensues,  or  the 
inflammation  which  is  set  up  in  the  invaginated  part. 

I  will  say  nothing  of  medical  treatment  in  this  case ;  for  I  do  not  know 
the  symptoms  of  intussusception,  or  how  it  is  to  be  distinguished  from 
acute  inflammation  of  the  bowels.  Acute  inflammation  will  not  long  exist 
without  producing  it ;  and,  if  its  existence  should  be  strongly  suspected, 
the  treatment  would  be  the  same  as  for  inflammation. 

The  domesticated  dog,  from  the  nature  of  his  food,  more  than  from  any 
constitutional  tendency,  is  liable  to  constipation.  This  should  never  be 
neglected.  If  two  or  three  days  should  pass  without  an  evacuation,  the 
case  should  be  taken  in  hand ;  otherwise  inflammation  will  be  very  soon 
established.  In  order  to  procure  an  evacuation,  the  aloetic  ball,  with  one 
or  two  grains  of  calomel,  should  be  given.  Beyond  that,  however,  I  should 
not  dare  to  go ;  but,  if  the  constipation  continued,  I  should  have  recourse  to 
the  castor-oil  mixture.  I  should  previously  examine  and  empty  the  rectum, 
and  have  frequent  recourse  to  the  enema-syringe ;  and  I  should  continue 
both.  It  would  be  my  object  to  evacuate  the  intestinal  canal  with  as  little 
increased  action  as  possible. 

DIARRHCEA 

is  the  discharge  of  faeces  more  frequently  than  usual,  and  thinner  than 
their  natural  consistence,  but  otherwise  not  materially  altered  in  quality ; 
and  the  mucous  coat  of  the  intestines  being  somewhat  congested,  if  not 
inflamed.  It  is  the  consequence  of  over-feeding,  or  the  use  of  improper 
food.  Sometimes  it  is  of  very  short  continuance,  and  disappears  without 
any  bad  consequence ;  the  health  being  unaffected,  and  the  character  of  the 
faeces  no  otherwise  altered  than  by  assuming  a  fluid  character.  It  may  not 
be  bad  practice  to  wait  a  day,  or  possibly  two,  as  it  is  desirable  for  the  action 
of  the  intestines  to  be  restored  without  the  aid  of  art.  I  should  by  no  means 
give  a  physic-ball,  or  a  grain  of  calomel,  in  simple  diarrhea.  I  should  fear 
the  establishment  of  that  species  of  purging  which  is  next  to  be  described. 
The  castor-oil  mixture  usually  affords  the  best  hope  of  success. 

Habitual  diarrho3a  is  not  an  unfrequent  disease  in  petted  dogs :  in  some 
it  is  constitutional,  in  others  it  is  the  effect  of  neglected  constipation.  A 
state  of  chronic  inflammation  is  induced,  which  has  become  part  of  the 
constitution  of  the  dog ;  and,  if  repressed  in  the  intestines,  it  will  appear 
under  a  more  dangerous  form  in  some  other  place. 

DYSENTERY 

is  a  far  more  serious  complaint.  In  most  cases  a  considerable  degree  of 
inflammation  of  the  mucous  coat  exists,  and  the  mucus  is  separated  from 
the  membrane  beneath,  and  discharged  per  anum.  The  mucus  thus  sepa- 
rated from  the  intestinal  membrane  assumes  an  acrid  character.  It  not 
only  produces  inflammation  of  the  membrane,  dangerous  and  difficult  to 
treat,  but  it  excoriates  the  anus  and  neighbouring  parts,  and  produces  pain 
and  tenesmus. 


COSTIVENESS.  205 

This  disease  has  sometimes  been  fatally  misunderstood.  A  great  deal 
of  irritation  exists  in  the  intestinal  membrane  generally,  and  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  rectum  particularly.  The  faeces  passing  over  this  denuded 
surface  causes  a  considerable  degree  of  pain,  and  there  is  much  straining, 
and  a  very  small  bit  or  portion  of  faeces  is  evacuated.  This  has  often  been 
seen  by  the  careless  observer ;  and,  as  he  has  taken  it  as  an  indication  of 
costiveness,  some  drastic  purgative  has  been  administered,  and  the  animal 
quickly  killed. 

No  one  that  had  ascertained  the  real  nature  of  the  disease  would  ad- 
minister calomel  in  any  form  or  combination ;  but  the  anodyne  mixture 
as  an  enema,  and  also  administered  by  the  mouth,  is  the  only  medicine  from 
which  benefit  can  be  expected. 

COSTIVENESS 

is  a  disease  when  it  becomes  habitual.  It  is  connected  with  disease  of  the 
intestinal  canal.  Many  dogs  have  a  dry  constipated  habit,  often  greatly 
increased  by  the  bones  on  which  they  are  too  frequently  fed.  This  favours 
the  disposition  to  mange  and  to  many  diseases  depending  on  morbid  secre- 
tions. It  produces  indigestion,  encourages  worms,  blackens  the  teeth,  and 
causes  fetid  breath.  The  food  often  accumulates  in  the  intestines,  and  the 
consequence  is  inflammation  of  these  organs.  A  dog  should  never  be 
suffered  to  remain  costive  more  than  a  couple  of  days.  An  aloetic  ball  or 
some  Epsom  salts  should  then  be  administered  ;  and  this  failing  to  produce 
the  desired  effect,  the  castor-oil  mixture,  with  spirits  of  buckthorn  and 
white  poppies,  should  be  administered,  and  the  use  of  the  clyster-pipe  re- 
sorted to.  It  may  be  necessary  to  introduce  the  finger  or  the  handle  of  a 
spoon  when  the  faecal  matter  is  more  than  usually  hard,  and  it  is  with  diffi- 
culty broken  down  :  small  doses  of  castor-oil  should  be  afterwards  resorted 
to,  and  recourse  be  occasionally  had  to  boiled  liver,  which  the  dog  will 
rarely  refuse.  The  best  means,  however,  of  preventing  costiveness  in  dogs, 
as  well  as  in  men,  is  regular  exercise.  A  dog  who  is  kept  chained  up  in 
a  kennel  should  be  taken  out  and  have  a  certain  quantity  of  exercise  once 
in  the  twenty-four  hours.  When  this  cannot  be  done,  the  food  should  con- 
sist chiefly  of  well-boiled  farinaceous  matter. 

DROPSY. 

Another  disease,  which  is  not  confined  to  the  abdominal  cavity,  is 
dropsy  :  but,  as  in  the  dog  it  most  commonly  assumes  that  form  which  is 
termed  ascites,  or  dropsy  of  the  abdomen,  it  may  be  noticed  in  this  place. 
It  is  seldom  an  idiopathic  or  primary  affection,  but  is  generally  the  con- 
sequence of  some  other  disease,  most  commonly  of  an  inflammatory 
kind. 

Dropsy  is  a  collection  of  fluid  in  some  part  of  the  frame,  either  from 
increased  exhalation,  or  from  diminished  absorption,  the  consequence  of 
inflammation.  The  divisions  of  dropsy  are  into  active  and  passive,  or 
acute  and  chronic.  The  causes  are  also  very  properly  arranged  as  pre- 
disposing and  exciting.  The  diseases  on  which  dropsy  most  frequently 
supervenes  are  fevers  and  visceral  inflammations  and  obstructions.  The 
dog  is  peculiarly  subject  to  ascites  or  dropsy  of  the  belly,  and  the  quantity 
of  fluid  contained  in  the  abdomen  is  sometimes  almost  incredible.  It  is 


206  DROPSY. 

usually  accompanied  or  characterised  by  a  weak,  unequal,  small,  and 
frequent  pulse — paleness  of  the  lips,  tongue,  and  gums — flaccidity  of  the 
muscles,  hurried  breathing  on  the  least  exertion,  feebleness  of  the  joints, 
swellings  of  the  lower  limbs,  effusion  of  fluid  into  the  integuments  or  among 
the  muscles,  before  there  is  any  considerable  effusion  into  the  thorax  or  the 
abdomen,  and  an  unhealthy  appearance  of  the  cutaneous  surface.  The  urine 
seldom  coagulates.  This  form  of  dropsy  is  usually  seated  in  the  abdomen 
or  cellular  tissue. 

The  treatment  of  ascites  is  seldom  perfectly  successful.  The  great  ex- 
tent of  the  peritoneum,  the  number  and  importance  of  the  viscera  with 
which  it  is  connected,  and  of  the  absorbent  glands  which  it  encloses,  the 
number  and  weakness  of  the  veins  which  transmit  their  blood  to  the  portal 
vessels,  and  the  absence  of  valves,  in  some  measure  account  for  the 
frequent  accumulation  of  fluid  in  this  cavity.  It  appears  in  both  sexes 
from  the  usual  causes  of  inflammatory  disease.  Unwholesome  diet,  the 
drastic  operation  of  purgatives,  external  injuries,  the  suppression  of  ac- 
customed secretions  and  discharges,  all  are  exciting  causes  of  dropsy. 

The  animal  has  suffered  materially  from  mange,  which  has  been  appa- 
rently cured :  the  itchiness  and  eruption  altogether  disappear,  but  many 
weeks  do  not  elapse  ere  ascites  begins  to  be  seen,  and  the  abdomen  is 
gradually  distended  with  fluid.  When  this  appears  in  young  and  healthy 
animals,  it  may  be  conquered ;  but  when  there  has  been  previous  disease 
of  almost  any  kind,  comparatively  few  patients  permanently  recover. 
Irritability  of  the  stomach,  and  a  small  and  accelerated  pulse  are  unfavour- 
able. If  the  operation  of  tapping  has  taken  place,  at  all  times  there  is 
danger ;  but,  if  there  is  a  thick,  brown,  albuminous  or  fetid  discharge,  it 
is  very  unlikely  that  any  permanent  advantage  will  result  from  the 
operation. 

We  will  introduce  a  few  cases  as  they  occur  in  our  clinical  records. 

November  7th,  1821. — A  spaniel,  nine  years  old,  had  been,  during  four 
months,  alternately  asthmatic  or  mangy,  or  both.  Within  the  last  few 
days  she  had  apparently  increased  in  size.  I  was  sent  for.  The  first  touch 
of  the  abdomen  betrayed  considerable  fluctuation.  She  likewise  had  piles, 
sore  and  swelled.  I  ordered  an  alterative  ball  to  be  given  morning  and 
night.  8th.  One  of  the  balls  has  been  given,  and  two  doses  of  castor  oil ; 
but  no  effect  has  been  produced.  An  injection  was  administered.  9th.  A 
small  evacuation  of  water  has  been  produced,  and  the  bowels  have  been 
slightly  opened.  Give  a  dose  of  the  castor-oil  mixture.  10th.  The  ob- 
struction has  been  removed ;  the  enlargement  is  somewhat  diminished  ; 
much  water  has  passed.  Give  an  alterative  ball  every  morning.  14th. 
The  alteratives  have  been  continued,  and  there  is  a  slow  but  evident  de- 
crease of  the  abdomen.  ISth.  I  cannot  detect  any  effusion  in  the  abdo- 
men. Give  a  pill  every  alternate  day  for  a  fortnight.  At  the  expiration 
of  this  period  the  dog  was  apparently  well. 

April  23rd,  1822. — A  terrier,  ten  years  old,  had  cough  and  mange, 
which  ceased.  The  belly  for  the  first  time  began  to  enlarge,  and  on  feel- 
ing the  dog  considerable  fluctuation  was  evident.  He  would  not  eat,  but 
he  drank  immoderately.  Give  daily  a  ball  consisting  of  tonic  and  physic 
mist.,  with  powdered  digitalis  and  tartrate  of  iron.  May  6th. — He  is  in 
better  spirits,  feeds  tolerably  well,  but  is  rather  increased  in  size.  Give 
daily  a  ball  of  tartrate  of  iron,  digitalis,  ginger,  and  a  grain  of  calomel. 
22nd.  Much  thinner,  the  belly  very  considerably  diminished :  a  slight  flue- 


DROPSY.  207 

tuation  is  still  to  be  perceived.  Continue  medicine,  with  a  half-grain 
only  of  calomel.  July  17 th. — The  medicine  has  been  regularly  given, 
and  the  water  of  the  abdomen  has  rapidly  disappeared,  until  a  fortnight 
ago :  since  that  time  it  has  been  once  more  filling.  The  medicine  was 
ordered  to  be  repeated.  August  6th. — The  medicine  has  once  more  pro- 
duced its  proper  effect,  and  the  fluid  has  disappeared.  On  the  16^,  how- 
ever, the  fluctuation  was  again  too  plainly  felt,  and  the  owner  determined 
to  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  the  case.  The  animal  was  never  brought 
again,  nor  could  I  trace  it.  That  dog  might  have  been  saved  if  the  owner 
had  done  it  justice. 

As  soon  as  dropsy  appears  to  be  established,  proper  medicines  must  be 
resorted  to.  Foxglove,  nitre,  and  ginger  should  be  first  tried  in  the  pro- 
portional doses  of  one,  ten,  and  eight  grains,  given  morning  and  night. 
If  this  does  not  succeed,  iodine  from  half-a-grain  to  a  grain  may  be  given 
morning  and  night,  and  a  weak  solution  of  iodine  rubbed  on  the  belly. 

This  being  ineffectual,  recourse  may  be  had  to  tapping,  taking  care 
that  the  trocar  is  not  plunged  sufficiently  deep  to  wound  the  intestines. 
The  place  for  the  operation  is  directly  on  the  linea  alba,  or  middle  line  of 
the  belly,  and  about  midway  between  the  pubis  and  the  navel.  The  whole 
of  the  intestinal  fluid  may  be  suffered  to  escape.  A  bandage  should  then 
be  applied  round  the  belly,  and  retained  there  a  week  or  more. 

Mr.  Elaine  very  properly  states,  that  the  difference  between  fatness  and 
dropsy  is,  that  the  belly  hangs  pendulous  in  dropsy,  while  the  back  bone 
stands  up,  and  the  hips  are  protruded  through  the  skin  ;  while  the  hair  is 
rough,  and  the  feeling  of  the  coat  is  peculiarly  harsh.  It  may  be  dis- 
tinguished from  pregnancy  by  the  teats  enlarging,  in  the  latter  case,  as 
gestation  advances,  and  the  young  ones  may  occasionally  be  felt  to  move. 
In  addition  to  this  it  may  be  stated,  that  the  presence  of  water  is  readily 
and  unerringly  detected.  If  the  right  hand  is  laid  on  one  side  of  the  belly, 
and  the  other  side  is  gently  struck  with  the  left  hand,  an  undulating 
motion  will  be  readily  perceived. 

In  old  dogs,  dropsy,  under  the  title  of  "  anasarca,"  is  an  unfrequent  but 
occasional  accompaniment  of  ascites.  If  pressure  is  made  on  any  parti- 
cular parts,  they  yield  and  continue  depressed  for  a  longer  or  shorter 
period  of  time,  and  slowly  and  by  degrees  regain  their  natural  form.  The 
skin  is  dry  and  distended,  and  with  no  natural  action ;  the  circulation  is 
languid  and  small,  the  muscular  powers  are  diminished,  the  animal  is  un- 
quiet, the  thirst  is  great,  the  tongue  is  pale,  the  appetite  diminished,  and 
the  limbs  are  swelled.  The  best  mode  of  treatment  is  the  infliction  of 
some  very  small  punctures  in  the  distended  skin,  and  the  application  of 
gentle  friction.  The  majority  of  cases  of  this  kind  are  usually  fatal,  and 
so  is  almost  every  case  of  encysted  dropsy. 

A  dog  had  cough  in  February,  1825.  Various  medicines  were  admi- 
nistered, and  at  length  the  cough  almost  suddenly  ceased,  and  evident 
ascites  appeared.  The  thirst  was  insatiable,  the  dog  would  not  touch  food, 
and  he  was  unable  to  lie  down  more  than  two  minutes  at  a  time.  Digitalis, 
cream  of  tartar,  and  hydrarg.  submur.  were  given  on  the  9th  April. 
On  the  13th  he  was  much  worse,  and  apparently  dying.  He  had  been  un- 
able to  rise  for  the  last  twelve  hours,  and  lay  panting.  I  punctured 
the  abdomen,  and  four  quarts  of  fluid  were  evacuated.  I4tk.  The  pant- 
ing continues.  The  dog  will  not  eat,  but  he  can  lie  down  in  any  pos- 
ture. 15th.  The  panting  is  diminished,  the  appetite  is  returning,  and 


208  DROPSY. 

water  continues  to  ooze  from  the  wound.  17 th.  The  wound  healed  on 
the  night  of  the  15th,  and  already  the  fluid  begins  to  collect.  The  medi- 
cine still  continued.  20th.  The  spirits  good,  and  strength  improving;  but 
the  belly  is  evidently  filling,  and  matter  is  discharged  from  both  the  nose 
and  eyes.  26th.  The  swelling  a  little  diminished,  respiration  easy,  and 
the  dog  walking  comfortably  about,  and  feeding  well.  May  13th. — The 
swelling,  which  for  some  days  past  diminished,  is  now  again  increasing ; 
but  the  dog  is  strong  and  breathes  easily.  Medicine  as  before.  24th.  The 
dog  is  thinner,  weaker,  filling  fast,  and  the  thirst  excessive.  R  Crem. 
tart.,  ferri  tart,  sij.,  pulv.  flor.  anthemid.  siiij.,  conser.  ros.  q.  s. :  divide  in 
bol.  xii. :  cap.  in  dies.  27th.  During  two  days  he  has  been  unable  to  lie  down 
more  than  a  minute  at  a  time.  Again  tapped :  fully  as  much  fluid  was 
evacuated  as  before  ;  but  there  is  now  blood  mingling  with  it.  SOth.  Much 
relieved  by  the  tapping,  and  breathes  with  perfect  ease  ;  but,  now  that  the 
enormous  belly  is  reduced,  the  dog  is  very  thin.  Bol.  continued.  June  8th. 
Within  the  last  three  days  the  animal  has  filled  again  with  extraordinary 
rapidity.  R  Ferr.  tart,  bj.,  opii.  gr.  i,  pulv.  gentianae  bj.,  cons.  ros.  q.  s.: 
f.  bol.  capiend.  in  dies.  13th.  Is  again  strangely  distended ;  I  advised,  or 
rather  solicited,  that  it  might  be  destroyed ;  but  this  not  being  granted,  I 
once  more  tapped  him.  At  least  a  gallon  of  dark-coloured  fluid  was 
evacuated.  22nd.  Again  rapidly  filling,  but  not  losing  either  flesh  or 
strength.  July  4th. — Once  more  punctured,  and  a  gallon  of  dark-coloured 
fluid  evacuated.  12th.  Again  filling  and  rapidly  losing  flesh  and  strength. 
26th.  Once  more  tapped :  immediately  after  which  he  appeared  to  be  re- 
vived, but  almost  immediately  began  again  to  fill.  Aug.  2nd. — He  had 
eaten  tolerably ;  appeared  to  have  nothing  more  than  usual  the  matter  with 
him,  when,  being  missed  for  an  hour,  he  was  found  dead.  No  examination 
was  permitted. 

In  1824  a  spaniel,  six  years  old,  was  brought  to  the  infirmary.  It 
had  had  an  asthmatic  cough,  which  had  left  it.  It  was  now  hollow  in 
the  flanks,  the  belly  pendulous,  and  an  evident  fluctuation  of  water.  The 
owner  would  not  consent  to  any  operation.  An  aloetic  physic-ball,  how- 
ever, was  given  every  fifth  day,  and  a  ball,  composed  of  tartrate  of  iron, 
digitalis,  nitre,  and  antimonial  powder,  on  every  intermediate  morning 
and  night.  The  water  evidently  accumulated  ;  the  dog  was  sent  for,  and 
died  in  the  course  of  a  week. 

There  are  a  few  medicines  that  may  be  useful  in  arresting  the  effusion 
of  the  fluid  ;  but  they  too  often  fail  in  producing  any  considerable  benefit. 
The  fox -glove  is,  perhaps,  possessed  of  the  greatest  power,  combined  with 
nitre,  squills,  and  bitartrate  of  potash.  At  other  times  chamomile,  squills, 
and  spirit  of  nitrous  ether  may  be  tried. 

The  following  case,  treated  by  the  administration  of  iodine,  by  Professor 
Dick,  is  important : — 

A  black  and  tan  coloured  retriever  was  sent  to  me  labouring  under 
ascites.  He  was  tapped,  and  two  quarts  of  fluid  abstracted.  Tonics  com- 
bined with  diuretics  were  given,  but  the  fluid  continued  to  accumulate, 
and  in  three  weeks  he  was  again  tapped,  and  another  two  quarts  drawn 
away.  The  disease  still  went  on,  and  a  fortnight  afterwards  a  similar 
quantity  was  withdrawn.  Various  remedies  were  tried  in  order  to  check 
the  power  of  the  disease,  but  without  effect,  and  the  abdomen  again  be- 
came as  much  distended  with  the  effused  serum  as  before. 

He  was  then  put  under  a  course  of  iodine,  which  soon  began  to  show  its 


THE  LIVER.  209 

beneficial  influence  by  speedily  allaying  his  excessive  thirst ;  and  in  about 
a  month  the  whole  of  the  effused  fluid  was  absorbed,  although  from  the  size 
of  the  abdomen  it  must  have  amounted  to  a  similar  quantity  to  that  drawn 
off  on  the  previous  occasions.  The  dog's  appetite  soon  returned  ;  lie  gained 
flesh  rapidly,  and  has  continued  quite  well,  and,  from  being  a  perfect 
skeleton,  soon  became  overloaded  with  fat. 

Induced  by  the  great  benefit  derived  in  this  case  from  the  iodine,  I  took 
the  opportunity  of  trying  it  on  a  Newfoundland  dog  similarly  affected. 
He  was  put  on  a  course  of  iodine,  and  the  quantity  of  the  drug  was 
gradually  increased.  As  absorption  rapidly  commenced,  the  fluid  was 
completely  taken  up ;  but,  partly  in  consequence  of  pushing  the  medicine 
too  far,  and  partly  from  extensive  disease  in  the  liver,  unfavourable  symp- 
toms took  place,  and  he  sunk  rather  unexpectedly.  Still,  however,  from 
the  obvious  and  decided  advantage  derived  from  the  medicine,  I  have  no 
doubt  that  iodine  will  be  found  one  of  the  most  efficient  remedies  in 
dropsy  in  dogs. 

Iodine  is  a  truly  valuable  drug.  When  first  introduced  into  veterinary 
practice  it  was  observed  that  it  readily  accomplished  the  reduction  of  the 
enlarged  glands  that  frequently  remain  after  catarrh ;  but  it  was  presently 
evident  that  it  reduced  almost  every  kind  of  tumour,  even  the  growth  of 
tubercles  in  the  lungs.  Professor  Morton,  in  his  Manual  of  Pharmacy, 
has  admirably  described  the  different  combinations  of  iodine. 

THE  LIVER 

of  the  dog  seems  to  follow  a  law  of  comparative  anatomy,  that  its  bulk 
shall  be  in  an  inverse  proportion  to  that  of  the  lungs.  The  latter  are 
necessarily  capacious ;  for  they  need  a  large  supply  of  arterial  blood,  in 
order  to  answer  to  their  rapid  expenditure  when  the  utmost  exertion  of 
strength  and  speed  is  required.  The  liver  is,  therefore,  restricted  in  its 
size  and  growth.  Nevertheless,  it  has  an  important  duty  to  fulfil,  namely, 
to  receive  the  blood  that  is  returned  from  the  intestines,  to  separate  from 
the  blood,  or  to  secrete,  by  means  of  it,  the  bile ;  and  then  to  transmit  the 
remaining  portion  of  it  to  the  lungs,  where  it  undergoes  the  usual  process 
of  purification,  and  is  changed  to  arterial  blood.  In  the  performance  of 
this  office,  the  liver  often  undergoes  a  state  of  inflammation,  and  disease 
ensues,  inveterate,  and  setting  at  defiance  every  means  of  cure.  Both  the 
skin  and  the  urine  become  tinged  with  a  yellow  effusion.  The  animal  is 
dull,  and  gradually  wastes  away. 

In  a  few  days  the  yellow  hue  becomes  more  intense,  and  particularly  on 
the  cuticle,  the  conjunctiva,  the  iris,  the  gums,  and  the  lips.  A  state  of 
fever  becomes  more  and  more  perceptible,  and  there  are  alternations  of 
cold  and  heat.  The  pulse  varies  from  80  to  120  ;  the  dry  tongue  hangs 
from  the  mouth  ;  the  appetite  ceases,  but  the  animal  is  peculiarly  desirous 
of  cold  water.  The  dog  becomes  restless  ;  he  seeks  to  hide  himself;  and 
he  groans,  if  the  parts  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  liver  are  pressed  upon. 

Frequent  vomitings  now  appear,  slimy,  and  evidently  containing  gall. 
The  animal  becomes  visibly  thinner,  obstinately  refuses  all  solid  food, 
and  only  manifests  thirst.  He  begins  to  stagger  as  he  walks ;  he  with- 
draws himself  from  observation  ;  he  anxiously  seeks  some  dark  place  where 
he  may  lay  himself  with  his  chest  and  belly  resting  on  the  cold  ground, 
his  fore  legs  stretched  out  before  him,  and  his  hind  legs  almost  as  far 


210  DISEASES  OF  THE  LIVER. 

behind  him.  The  fever  increases,  the  skin  becomes  of  a  dark  yellow 
colour,  the  mucous  membrance  of  the  mouth  and  conjunctiva  is  of  a  dirty 
red,  the  expired  air  is  evidently  hot,  the  gaze  is  anxious,  the  urine  is  of  a 
saffron  yellow,  or  even  darker :  in  short,  there  now  appears  every  symptom 
of  inflammation  of  the  liver,  with  jaundice. 

As  the  disease  proceeds  the  animal  begins  to  vomit  masses  of  a  yellowish 
green  substance,  occasionally  mixed  with  blood.  He  wastes  away  to  a 
skeleton,  he  totters  in  his  walk,  he  is  half  unconscious,  the  pulse  becomes 
weak  and  interrupted,  the  temperature  sinks,  and  death  ensues. 

The  duration  and  course  of  the  disease  is  deceptive.  It  occasionally 
proceeds  so  insidiously  that  several  days  are  suffered  to  pass  before  the 
owner  perceives  any  marks  of  disease,  or  seeks  any  aid.  The  duration  of 
the  disease  is  usually  from  ten  to  twelve  days.  It  terminates  in  congestion 
of  blood  in  the  liver,  or  a  gradual  restoration  to  health.  The  latter  can 
only  take  place  in  cases  where  the  inflammation  has  proceeded  very  slowly ; 
where  the  commencement  and  progress  of  the  disease  could  be  discovered 
by  debility  and  slight  yellowness  of  the  skin,  and  especially  where  speedy 
recourse  has  been  had  to  medical  aid. 

The  predisposing  causes  of  this  disease  are  often  difficult  to  discover. 
The  dog,  in  warm  climates,  seems  to  have  a  natural  disposition  to  it.  As 
exciting  causes,  atmospheric  influence  may  be  reckoned,  sultry  days,  cold 
nights,  and  damp  weather.  Other  occasional  causes  may  be  found  in 
violent  falls,  bruises,  and  over-feeding.  Fat  petted  dogs  that  are  easily 
overheated  by  exertion  are  often  attacked  by  this  disease.  The  result  of 
the  disease  depends  on  its  duration,  course,  and  complication.  If  it  is 
attended  to  early,  it  can  generally  be  cured.  If  it  has  existed  for  several 
days,  and  the  fever  has  taken  on  a  typhoid  character — if  the  yellow  hue  is 
perceptible — the  appetite  failing,  and  vomiting  ensuing,  the  cure  is  doubt- 
ful; and,  if  inflammation  of  the  stomach  has  taken  place,  with  high  fever, 
vomiting  of  blood,  wasting  away,  and  fits  occurring,  there  is  no  chance 
of  cure. 

When  simple  jaundice  alone  is  visible,  a  moderate  laxative  of  sulphate 
of  magnesia  and  tartaric  acid,  in  conjunction  with  some  aromatic  and 
mucilaginous  fluid,  or,  quite  in  the  beginning  of  the  disease,  an  emetic, 
will  be  found  of  considerable  service  ;  but,  when  the  yellow  colour  has 
become  more  intense,  and  the  animal  will  no  longer  eat,  and  the  fever  and 
weakness  are  increased,  it  is  necessary  to  give  calomel,  tartar-emetic,  cam- 
phor, and  opium,  in  the  form  of  pills,  and  to  rub  some  strong  liniment  on 
the  region  of  the  liver :  the  doses  of  calomel,  however,  must  be  very  small. 
If  inflammation  of  the  stomach  appears,  mucilaginous  fluids  only  must  be 
given.  Bleeding  may  be  of  service  in  the  commencement  of  the  disease, 
but  after  it  is  hurtful. 

This  is  an  account  of  hepatitis  as  it  occasionally  appears,  and  particu- 
larly on  the  Continent ;  but  it  does  not  often  assume  so  virulent  a  character 
in  our  country.  There  is  often  restlessness,  thirst,  and  sickness,  accom- 
panied by  much  prostration  of  strength ;  or  general  heat  and  tenderness. 
Occasionally  there  is  purging ;  but  much  oftener  constipation,  that  bids 
defiance  to  almost  every  medicine.  The  principal  or  almost  only  hope  of 
cure  consists  in  bleeding,  physicking,  and  blistering  on  the  right  side. 

Of  bilious  disease,  assuming  the  character  of  inflammation,  we  have  too 
many  cases.  It  may  be  spontaneous  or  brought  on  by  the  agency  of  other 
affections.  Long-continued  and  inveterate  mange  will  produce  it.  It  is 


JAUNDICE.  211 

often  connected  with,  or  produced  by,  distemper,  or  a  dull  inflammatory 
disease  of  the  liver,  and  it  is  generally  accompanied  by  pustular  eruption 
on  the  belly.  The  skin  is  usually  tinged  of  a  yellow  hue,  and  the  urine 
is  almost  invariably  impregnated  with  bile.  The  suffusion  which  takes 
place  is  recognised  among  sportsmen  by  the  term  "  yellows."  The  re- 
medy should  be  some  mercurial,  with  gentian  and  aloes  given  twice  in  the 
day,  and  mercurial  ointment  well  rubbed  in  once  in  the  day.  If  this 
treatment  is  steadily  pursued,  and  a  slight  soreness  induced  in  the  mouth, 
the  treatment  will  usually  be  successful.  Mr.  Elaine  observes,  "  A  mo- 
derate soreness  of  the  mouth  is  to  be  encouraged  and  kept  up.  I  have 
never  succeeded  in  removing  the  complaint  without  it."  . 

JAUNDICE. 

M.  W.  Leblanc,  of  Paris,  has  given  an  interesting  account  of  the  causes 
and  treatment  of  jaundice  in  the  dog. 

The  prevailing  symptom  of  this  disease  in  the  dog  is  a  yellow  dis- 
coloration of  the  skin  and  the  mucous  membranes  of  greater  or  less 
intensity.  It  generally  announces  the  existence  of  very  serious  disease, 
as  inflammation  of  the  liver  and  its  excretory  ducts,  or  of  the  gall-bladder, 
or  the  stomach,  or  small  intestines,  or  contraction  or  obliteration  of  the 
excretory  ducts  of  the  liver,  in  consequence  of  inflammation  of  these 
vessels,  or  the  presence  of  concrete  substances  formed  from  the  bile.  The 
dogs  in  which  he  found  the  most  decided  traces  of  this  disease  laboured 
under  diarrhoea,  with  stools  of  a  reddish  brown  or  black  colour  for  one, 
two,  or  three  days. 

The  causes  of  jaundice  are  chiefly  over  fatigue  (thus,  greyhounds  are 
more  subject  to  it  than  pointers),  immersions  in  water,  fighting,  emetics 
or  purgatives  administered  in  over-doses,  the  repeated  use  of  poisonous 
substances  not  sufficiently  strong  at  once  to  destroy  the  animal,  the  swal- 
lowing of  great  quantities  of  indigestible  food,  and  contusions  of  the 
abdominal  viscera,  especially  about  the  region  of  the  liver.  The  most 
serious,  if  not  the  most  common  cause,  is  cold  after  violent  and  long- 
continued  exercise ;  and  especially  when  the  owners  of  dogs,  seeing  them 
refuse  their  food  after  a  long  chace,  give  them  powerful  purgatives  or 
emetics. 

The  treatment  should  have  strict  relation  to  the  real  or  supposed  cause 
of  jaundice,  and  its  most  evident  concomitant  circumstances.  Some  of 
these  symptoms  are  constant  and  others  variable.  Among  the  first,  what- 
ever be  the  cause  of  the  disease,  we  reckon  acceleration  of  the  pulse ;  fever, 
with  paroxysms  of  occasional  intensity ;  and  a  yellow  or  reddish-yellow 
discoloration  of  the  urine.  Among  the  second  are  constipation,  diarrhoea, 
the  absence  or  increase  of  colour  in  the  faecal  matter,  whether  solid  or 
fluid.  When  they  are  solid,  they  are  usually  void  of  much  colour;  when, 
on  the  contrary,  there  is  diarrhoea,  the  faeces  are  generally  mingled  with 
blood  more  or  less  changed.  Sometimes  the  dejections  are  nearly  black, 
mixed  with  mucus.  It  is  not  unusual  for  a  chest  affection  to  be  compli- 
cated with  the  lesions  of  the  digestive  organs,  which  are  the  cause  of 
jaundice. 

With  these  leading  symptoms  there  are  often  others  connected  that  are 
common  to  many  diseases ;  such  as  dryness  and  heat  of  the  mouth,  a  fetid 
smell,  a  staggering  gait,  roughness  of  the  hair,  and  particularly  of  that  of 

p  2 


212  JAUNDICE. 

the  back ;  an  insatiable  thirst,  accompanied  by  the  refusal  of  all  food  ;  loss 
of  flesh,  which  occasionally  proceeds  with  astonishing  rapidity ;  a  tucked-up 
flank,  with  hardness  and  tenderness  of  the  anterior  part  of  the  belly. 

The  jaundice  which  is  not  accompanied  with  fever,  nor  indeed  with  any 
morbid  change  but  the  colour  of  the  skin,  will  require  very  little  treat- 
ment. It  will  usually  disappear  in  a  reasonable  time,  and  M.  Leblanc  has 
not  found  that  any  kind  of  treatment  would  hasten  that  disappearance. 

When  any  new  symptom  becomes  superadded  to  jaundice,  it  must  be 
immediately  combated.  Fever,  injection  of  the  vessels  of  the  conjunctiva, 
constipation,  diarrhoea,  or  the  discoloration  of  the  urine,  require  one 
bleeding  at  least,  with  some  mucilaginous  drinks.  Purgatives  are  always 
injurious  at  the  commencement  of  the  disease.  "  I  consider,"  says  M. 
Leblanc,  "  this  fact  to  be  of  the  utmost  importance.  Almost  the  whole  of 
the  dogs  that  have  been  brought  to  me  seriously  ill  with  jaundice,  have 
been  purged  once  or  more  ;  and  either  kitchen  salt,  or  tobacco,  or  jalap, 
or  syrup  of  buckthorn,  or  emetic  tartar,  or  some  unknown  purgative  pow- 
ders, have  been  administered. 

"  Bleeding  should  be  resorted  to,  and  repeated  if  the  fever  continues,  or 
the  animal  coughs,  or  the  respiration  be  accelerated.  When  the  pulse  is 
subdued,  and  the  number  of  pulsations  are  below  the  natural  standard — if 
the  excrements  are  still  void  of  their  natural  colour — if  the  constipation 
continues,  or  the  animal  refuses  to  feed — an  ounce  of  manna  dissolved  in 
warm  water  should  be  given,  and  the  dog  often  drenched  with  linseed  tea. 
If  watery  diarrhoea  should  supervene,  and  the  belly  is  not  hot  nor  tender,  a 
drachm  or  more,  according  to  the  size  of  the  dog,  of  the  sulphate  of  mag- 
nesia or  soda  should  be  administered,  and  this  medicine  should  be  repeated 
if  the  purging  continues;  more  especially  should  this  aperient  be  had 
recourse  to  when  the  faeces  are  more  or  less  bloody,  there  being  no  fever  nor 
peculiar  tenderness  of  the  belly. 

"  When  the  liquid  excrement  contains  much  blood,  and  that  blood  is  of  a 
deep  colour,  all  medicines  given  by  the  mouth  should  be  suspended,  and 
frequent  injections  should  be  thrown  up,  consisting  of  thin  starch,  with  a 
few  drops  of  laudanum.  Too  much  cold  water  should  not  be  allowed  in 
this  stage  of  the  disease.  Injections,  and  drinks  composed  of  starch  and 
opium,  are  the  means  most  likely  to  succeed  in  the  black  diarrhoea,  which 
is  so  frequent  and  so  fatal,  and  which  almost  always  precedes  the  fatal 
termination  of  all  the  diseases  connected  with  jaundice. 

"  In  simple  cases  of  jaundice  the  neutral  salts  have  seldom  produced  much 
good  effect ;  but  I  have  obtained  considerable  success  from  the  diascordium, 
in  doses  of  half  a  drachm  to  a  drachm. 

"  Great  care  should  be  taken  with  regard  to  the  diet  of  the  dog  that  has 
had  jaundice,  with  bloody  or  black  diarrhoea  ;  for  the  cases  of  relapse  are 
frequent  and  serious,  and  almost  always  caused  by  improper  or  too  abun- 
dant food.  A  panada  of  bread,  with  a  little  butter,  will  constitute  the  best 
nourishment  when  the  dog  begins  to  recover  his  appetite.  From  this  he 
maybe  gradually  permitted  to  return  to  his  former  food.  Most  especially 
should  the  animal  not  be  suffered  to  take  cold,  or  to  be  left  in  a  low  or 
damp  situation.  This  attention  to  the  food  of  the  convalescent  dog  may  be 
thought  to  be  pushed  a  little  too  far ;  but  experience  has  taught  me  to 
consider  it  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  it  is  neither  expensive  nor 
troublesome." 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  KIDNEY.  213 


THE  SPLEEN  AND  PANCREAS. 

The  spleen  is  generally  regarded  as  an  appendage  to  the  absorbent 
system.  Tiedemann  and  Gmelin  consider  that  its  specific  function  is  to 
secrete  from  the  blood  a  fluid  which  possesses  the  property  of  coagulation, 
and  which  is  carried  to  the  thoracic  duct,  and  then,  being  united  with  the 
chyle,  converts  it  into  blood,  arid  causes  an  actual  communication  between 
the  arterial  and  absorbent  systems.  According,  however,  to  Dr.  Bostock, 
there  is  a  fatal  objection  to  this,  namely,  that  animals  have  been  known  to 
live  an  indefinite  length  of  time  after  the  removal  of  the  spleen,  without 
any  obvious  injury  to  their  functions,  which  could  not  have  been  the  case 
if  the  spleen  had  been  essentially  necessary  for  so  important  a  process. 

A  knowledge  of  the  diseases  of  the  spleen  in  the  dog  appears  to  be  less 
advanced  than  in  any  other  animal.  In  the  cases  that  I  have  seen,  the 
earliest  indications  were  frequent  vomiting,  and  the  discharge  of  a  yellow, 
frothy  mucus.  The  animal  appeared  uneasy,  shivering,  the  ears  cold,  the 
eyes  unnaturally  protuberant,  the  nostrils  dilated,  the  flanks  agitated,  the 
respiration  accelerated,  and  the  mucous  membranes  pale.  The  best  treat- 
ment I  know  is  the  administration,  twice  in  the  day,  of  a  ball  composed  of 
a  grain  of  calomel  and  the  same  quantity  of  aloes,  and  five  grains  of  ginger. 
The  dog  frequently  cries  out,  both  when  he  is  moved  and  when  he  lies  on 
his  bed.  In  the  course  of  three  days  the  yellow  mucus  is  generally  dis- 
appearing, and  the  expression  of  pain  is  materially  diminished. 

If  the  bowels  are  much  constipated  after  two  days  have  passed,  two 
scruples  of  aloes  may  be  given,  and  a  grain  of  calomel ;  frequent  injections 
may  also  be  administered. 

We  are  almost  totally  ignorant  of  the  the  functions  of  the  pancreas.  It 
probably  is  concerned  in  assimilating  the  food,  and  converting  the  chyme 
of  the  stomach  into  chyle. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  KIDNEY 

is  a  serious  and  dangerous  malady.  This  organ  is  essentially  vascular  in 
its  texture ;  and  although  it  is  small  in  volume,  yet,  on  account  of  the 
quantity  of  blood  which  it  contains,  and  the  rapidity  with  which  its  secre- 
tions are  performed,  it  is  disposed  to  frequent  and  dangerous  inflammation. 
The  immediate  causes  of  inflammatory  action  in  this  viscus  are  blows  and 
contusions  in  the  lumbar  region ;  hard  work  long  continued,  and  the  im- 
prudent use  of  stimulating  substances  employed  as  aphrodisiacs ;  the  pre- 
sence of  calculi  in  the  kidney,  and  the  arrest  of  the  urine  in  the  bladder. 
The  whole  of  the  kidney  may  be  affected  with  anaemia  or  defect  of  blood, 
or  this  may  be  confined  to  the  cortical  substance,  or  even  to  the  tubular. 
The  kidneys  are  occasionally  much  larger  than  usual,  without  any  other 
change  of  structure ;  or  simple  hypertrophy  may  affect  but  one  of  them. 
They  are  subject  to  atrophy,  which  may  be  either  general  or  partial ;  or 
one  of  the  kidneys  may  be  completely  wanting,  and  this  evidently  the  con- 
sequence of  violence  or  disease. 

Hydatids,  although  seldom  met  with  in  the  human  kidney,  are  not  un- 
frequently  found  in  that  of  the  dog.  All  these  are  circumstances  that  have 
not  received  sufficient  attention. 


214  CALCULUS. 


CALCULOUS  CONCRETIONS 

are  of  far  more  frequent  occurrence  than  is  generally  imagined,  but  they 
are  not  confined  to  the  kidneys ;  there  is  scarcely  a  portion  of  the  frame  in 
which  they  have  not  been  found,  particularly  in  the  brain,  the  glandular 
substance,  and  the  coats  of  the  intestines. 

I  cannot  say  with  Mr.  Blaine  that  I  have  seen  not  less  than  40  or  50 
calculi  in  my  museum ;  but  I  have  seen  too  many  fearful  examples  of  the 
complaint.  There  has  been  usually  great  difficulty  in  the  urinary  evacua- 
tion, and  at  length  one  of  the  calculi  enters  the  urethra,  and  so  blocks  up 
the  flow  of  the  urine  that  mortification  ensues. 

M.  Lautour  relates  a  case  of  renal  calculus  in  a  dog.  He  had  occa- 
sionally voided  his  urine  with  some  difficulty,  and  had  walked  slowly  and 
with  evident  pain.  August  20,  1827,  a  sudden  exacerbation  came  on, 
and  the  dog  was  dreadfully  agitated.  He  barked  and  rolled  himself  on 
the  ground  almost  every  minute ;  he  made  frequent  attempts  to  void  his 
urine,  which  came  from  him  drop  by  drop.  When  compelled  to  walk,  his 
hind  and  fore  legs  seemed  to  mingle  together,  and  his  loins  were  bent  into 
a  perfect  curve  ;  his  flanks  were  drawn  in  ;  he  could  scarcely  be  induced 
to  eat ;  and  he  evidently  suffered  much  in  voiding  his  faeces.  Mild  and 
demulcent  liquids  were  his  only  food.  Warm  baths  and  injections  were 
applied  almost  unceasingly,  and  in  eight  days  he  seemed  to  have  perfectly 
gained  his  health. 

In  March,  in  the  following  year,  the  symptoms  returned  with  greater 
intensity.  His  hind  limbs  were  dragged  after  him  ;  he  rapidly  lost  flesh, 
and  his  bowlings  were  fearful  and  continuous.  The  same  mode  of  treat- 
ment was  adopted  without  any  good  effect,  and,  his  cries  continuing,  he  was 
destroyed. 

The  stomach  and  intestines  were  healthy.  The  bladder  was  enlarged 
from  the  thickness  and  induration  of  its  parietes  ;  the  mucous  membrane 
of  it  was  covered  with  ecchymoses ;  the  kidneys  were  three  or  four  times 
their  natural  size ;  and  the  pelvis  contained  a  calculus  weighing  126  grains, 
composed  of  58  grains  of  uric  acid  and  58  of  ammonia,  with  10  grains  of 
phosphate  of  lime. 

Of  the  nature  and  causes  of  urinary  calculi  in  the  bladder  we  know  very 
little.  We  only  know  that  some  solid  body  finds  its  way,  or  is  formed, 
there,  gradually  increases  in  size,  and  at  length  partially  or  entirely  oc- 
cupies the  bladder.  Boerhaave  has  given  a  singular  and  undeniable  proof 
of  this.  He  introduced  a  small  round  pebble  into  the  bladder  of  a  dog. 
The  wound  perfectly  healed.  A  few  months  afterwards  the  animal  was 
killed,  and  there  was  found  a  calculus  of  considerable  size,  of  which  the 
pebble  was  the  nucleus. 

Occasionally  the  pressure  of  the  bladder  on  the  calculus  which  it  contains 
is  exceedingly  great,  so  much  so,  indeed,  as  to  crush  the  calculus.  A  small 
calculus  may  sometimes  be  forcibly  extracted,  or  cut  down  upon  and  re- 
moved ;  but  when  the  calculus  is  large,  a  catheter  or  bougie  must  be  passed 
up  the  penis  as  far  as  the  curve  in  the  urethra,  and  then  somewhat  firmly 
held  with  the  left  hand,  and  pressing  against  the  urethra.  A  scalpel  should 
be  taken,  and  an  incision  made  into  the  urethra.  The  catheter  being  now 
withdrawn,  and  the  finger  or  a  pair  of  forceps  introduced  into  the  bladder, 
the  calculus  may  be  grasped  and  extracted. 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BLADDER.  215 

There  are  some  instances  in  which  as  many  as  20  or  30  small  calculi 
have  been  taken  from  the  bladder  of  a  dog.  Twice  I  have  seen  calculi 
absolutely  crushed  in  the  bladder  of  a  dog ;  and  Mr.  Elaine  says  that  he 
found  no  fewer  than  40  or  50  in  the  bladder  of  a  Newfoundland  dog. 
One  of  them  had  passed  out  into  the  urethra,  and  had  so  blocked  up  the 
passage  that  the  flow  of  urine  was  prevented,  and  the  animal  died  of  mor- 
tification. 

With  much  pleasure  I  refer  to  the  details  of  Mr.  Elaine  with  regard 
to  the  management  of  vesical  calculi.  "  When  a  small  calculus,"  says 
he,  "  obstructs  the  urethra,  and  can  be  felt,  it  may  be  attempted  to  be 
forced  forward  through  the  urethra  to  the  point  of  the  penis,  whence 
it  may  be  extracted  by  a  pair  of  forceps.  If  it  cannot  be  so  moved  it 
may  be  cut  down  upon  and  removed  with  safety ;  but  when  one  or  more 
stones  are  within  the  bladder,  we  must  attempt  lithotomy,  after  having 
fully  satisfied  ourselves  of  their  existence  there  by  the  introduction  of 
the  sound ;  to  do  which  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  urethra  of 
the  dog  in  passing  the  bladder  proceeds  nearly  in  a  direct  line  back- 
wards, and  then,  making  an  acute  angle,  it  passes  again  forwards  to  the 
bladder.  It  must  be  therefore  evident,  that  when  it  becomes  necessary 
to  introduce  a  catheter,  sound,  or  bougie,  it  must  first  be  passed  up  the 
penis  to  the  extremity  of  this  angle ;  the  point  of  the  instrument  must 
then  be  cut  down  upon,  and  from  this  opening  the  instrument  may  be 
readily  passed  forward  into  the  bladder.  The  examination  made,  and  a 
stone  detected,  it  may,  if  a  very  small  one,  be  attempted  to  be  pushed 
forward  by  means  of  a  finger  passed  up  the  anus  into  the  urethra  ;  but,  as 
this  could  be  practicable  only  where  the  dog  happened  to  be  a  large  one, 
it  is  most  probable  that  nothing  short  of  the  operation  of  lithotomy  would 
succeed.  To  this  end,  the  sound  being  introduced,  pass  a  very  small 
gorget,  or  otherwise  a  bistoury,  along  its  groove  into  the  bladder,  to  effect 
an  opening  sufficient  to  admit  of  the  introduction  of  a  fine  pair  of  forceps, 
by  which  the  stone  may  be  laid  up  and  extracted." — Elaine's  Canine 
Pathology,  p.  180. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BLADDER 

is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the  dog ;  it  is  also  occasionally  observed  in 
the  horse  and  the  ox.  It  sometimes  appears  as  an  epizootic.  It  is  gene- 
rally announced  by  anxiety,  agitation,  trembling  of  the  hinder  limbs, 
frequent  attempts  to  urine,  vain  efforts  to  accomplish  it,  the  evacuation 
small  in  quantity,  sometimes  clear  and  aqueous,  and  at  other  times  mucous, 
laden  with  sediment,  thick  and  bloody,  escaping  by  jets,  painfully  and  with 
great  difficulty,  and  then  suddenly  rushing  out  in  great  quantity.  To  this 
list  of  symptoms  colic  may  often  be  added.  The  animal  drinks  with  avidity, 
but  seldom  eats  much,  unless  at  the  commencement  of  the  complaint. 
The  skin  is  hard  and  dry,  he  looks  at  his  flanks,  and  his  back  and  flanks 
are  tender  when  pressed  upon. 

During  the  latter  portion  of  my  connexion  with  Mr.  Elaine,  this  disease 
assumed  an  epidemic  character.  There  was  a  very  great  drought  through 
almost  every  part  of  the  country.  The  disease  was  characterised  by  general 
uneasiness ;  continual  shifting  of  the  posture  ;  a  tucked-up  appearance ;  an 
anxious  countenance ;  a  quick  and  noisy  pulse ;  continued  panting ;  the 
urine  voided  in  small  quantities,  sometimes  discharged  drop  by  drop,  or 


216  DISEASES  OF 

complete  stoppage  of  it.     The  belly  hot,  swelled,  and  tender  to  the  touch  ; 
the  dog  becoming  strangely  irritable,  and  ready  to  bite  even  his  master. 

1st  May,  1824. — Two  dogs  had  been  making  ineffectual  attempts  to 
void  their  urine  for  nearly  two  days.  The  first  was  a  terrier,  and  the 
other  a  Newfoundland.  The  terrier  was  bled,  placed  in  a  warm  bath,  and 
an  aloetic  ball,  with  calomel,  administered.  He  was  bled  a  second  time  in 
the  evening,  and  a  few  drops  of  water  were  discharged.  On  the  following 
day,  the  urine  slowly  passed  involuntarily  from  him  ;  but  when  he  attempted 
to  void  any,  his  efforts  were  totally  ineffectual.  Balls  composed  of  camphor, 
pulv.  uva  ursi,  tinct.  ferri  mur.,  mass  purg.,  and  pulv.  lini.  et  gum.  arab., 
were  administered  morning,  noon,  and  night.  On  the  5th  the  urine  still 
passed  involuntarily.  Cold  lotions  were  employed,  and  tonic  and  astrin- 
gent medicines  administered,  with  castor  oil.  He  gradually  got  well,  and 
no  trace  of  the  disease  remained  until  June  the  6th,  when  he  again  became 
thin  and  weak,  and  discharged  much  bloody  urine,  but  apparently  without 
pain.  The  uva  ursi,  oak  bark,  and  powdered  gum-arabic  were  employed. 
On  the  12th  he  had  become  much  better,  and  so  continued  until  the  1st  of 
July,  when  he  again  exhibited  the  same  complaint  more  violently  than 
before.  He  was  exceedingly  tender  on  the  loins,  and  screamed  when  he 
was  touched.  He  was  bled,  returned  to  his  uva  ursi  and  powdered  gum, 
and  recovered.  I  saw  him  two  years  afterwards  apparently  well. 

The  Newfoundland  dog  exhibited  a  similar  complaint,  with  nearly  the 
same  accompaniments.  May  1 .- — He  was  disinclined  to  move  ;  his  belly 
was  hard  and  hot,  and  he  was  supposed  to  be  costive.  Gave  an  aloetic 
ball  with  iron.  2nd.  He  has  endeavoured,  in  vain,  several  times  to 
void  his  urine.  He  walks  stiffly  with  his  back  bound.  Subtract  eight 
ounces  of  blood  ;  give  another  physic-ball,  and  apply  cold  affusion  to  the 
loins.  3rd.  He  frequently  attempts  to  stale,  and  passes  a  little  urine  at 
each  time ;  he  still  walks  and  stands  with  his  back  bound.  Syr.  papav.  et 
rhamni,  with  tinct.  ferr.  mur.,  a  large  spoonful  being  given  morning  and 
night.  4th.  He  again  tries,  ineffectually,  to  void  his  urine.  Mist,  et  pulv. 
5th.  Unable  to  void  a  drop  of  urine  ;  nose  hot ;  tongue  hangs  down  ;  pants 
considerably ;  will  not  eat ;  the  countenance  has  an  anxious  character. 
Bleed  to  twelve  ounces ;  apply  cold  affusion.  Medicine  as  before,  with 
cold  affusion.  6th.  Appears  to  be  in  very  great  pain  ;  not  a  drop  of  water 
has  passed  from  him.  Medicine  and  other  treatment  as  before.  In  the 
evening  he  lay  down  quietly.  On  the  next  morning  he  was  found  dead. 
All  the  viscera  were  sound  except  the  bladder,  which  was  ruptured  ;  the 
abdomen  contained  two  quarts  of  bloody  fluid.  The  mucous  membrane  of 
the  bladder  appeared  to  be  in  the  highest  state  of  inflammation.  It  was 
almost  black  with  extravasated  blood.  On  the  neck  of  the  bladder  was  an 
enlargement  of  the  size  of  a  goose's  egg,  and  almost  filling  the  cavity  of  the 
pelvis.  On  cutting  into  it  more  than  two  ounces  of  pus  escaped. 

On  June  29,  1833,  a  poodle  was  brought  to  me.  He  had  not  been  ob- 
served to  pass  any  urine  for  two  days.  He  made  frequent  attempts  to  void 
it,  and  cried  dreadfully.  The  bladder  could  be  felt  distended  in  the  abdo- 
men. I  put  him  into  a  warm  bath,  and  took  from  him  a  pound  of  blood. 
He  seemed  to  be  a  little  relieved.  I  did  not  leave  him  until  after  mid- 
night, but  was  soon  roused  by  his  loud  screams,  and  the  dog  was  also 
retching  violently.  The  cries  and  retching  gradually  abated,  and  he  died. 
The  bladder  had  burst,  and  the  parietes  were  in  a  fearful  state  of  in- 
flammation. 


THE  BLADDER.  217 

A  dog  had  laboured  under  incontinence  of  urine  more  than  two  months. 
The  water  was  continually  dropping  from  him.  The  servant  told  me  that, 
three  months  before,  he  had  been  shut  into  a  room  two  days,  and,  being 
a  cleanly  animal,  would  not  stale  until  he  was  liberated.  Soon  after  that 
the  incontinence  of  urine  was  observed.  I  gave  the  usual  tonic  balls,  with 
a  small  portion  of  opium,  night  and  morning,  and  ordered  cold  water  to  be 
frequently  dashed  on  the  perinseum.  A  month  afterwards  he  was  quite 
well. 

Comparatively  speaking,  profuse  staling  is  not  a  common  disease,  except 
when  it  is  the  consequence  of  bad  food,  or  strong  diuretics,  or  actual  in- 
flammation. The  cause  and  the  result  of  the  treatment  are  often  obscure. 
Bleeding,  purging,  and  counter  irritation,  would  be  indicated  to  a  certain 
extent,  but  the  lowering  system  must  not  be  carried  too  far.  The  medicine 
would  probably  be  catechu,  uva  ursi,  and  opium. 

At  times  blood  mingles  with  the  urine,  with  or  without  coagulation. 
The  cause  and  the  source  of  it  may  or  may  not  be  determined.  Generally 
speaking  it  is  the  result  of  some  strain  or  blow. 

A  terrier  bitch,  in  January ,  1 820,  had  incontinence  of  urine.  No  swelling 
or  injury  could  be  detected.  I  used  with  her  the  simple  tonic  balls.  10th 
January.*— She  is  now  considerably  better,  and  only  a  few  drops  are  ob- 
served. 2nd  February. — The  disease  which  had  seemingly  been  conquered 
began  again  to  re-appear ;  the  medicine  had  been  neglected.  Again  have 
recourse  to  it.  4th  March. — The  disease  now  appears  to  be  quite  checked 
by  the  cold  lotion  and  the  balls. 

A  CASE  OF  RUPTURE  OF  THE  BLADDER, 

This  is  a  singular  account,  and  stands  almost  alone. 

The  patient  was  a  valuable  spaniel  belonging  to  that  breed  known  as 
"  The  Duke  of  Norfolk's,"  and  now  possessed  in  its  full  perfection  by  the 
Earl  of  Albemarle.  Professor  Simonds  shall  give  his  own  account : — I 
was  informed  that  almost  from  a  puppy  to  the  time  when  he  was  two  years 
old,  the  dog  had  always  been  delicate  in  his  appearance,  and  was  observed 
to  void  his  urine  with  difficulty  ;  but  there  were  not  sufficient  indications 
of  disease  for  the  owner  to  suppose  that  medical  attendance  was  necessary 
until  with  a  few  days  of  his  death,  and  then,  finding  that  the  act  of  staling 
was  effected  with  increased  difficulty,  and  accompanied  with  extreme  pain  ; 
that  the  dog  refused  his  food,  was  feverish  ;  that  at  length  there  were  fre- 
quent or  ineffective  efforts  to  expel  the  urine,  the  dog  crying  out  from 
extremity  of  pain,  and  it  was  sufficiently  evident  that  great  mischief  was 
going  on,  he  was  placed  under  my  care ;  and  even  then  he  was  walked 
a  mile  and  a  half  to  my  infirmary. 

My  attention  was  immediately  directed  to  him  ;  the  man  who  brought 
him  informing  me  that  he  seemed  much  easier  since  he  left  home.  On 
examination,  I  at  once  pronounced  that  he  could  not  recover ;  in  fact,  that 
he  was  rapidly  sinking ;  but,  from  his  then  state,  I  could  give  no  opinion 
with  regard  to  the  precise  nature  or  extent  of  his  disease.  He  was  placed 
upon  a  bed  in  an  appropriate  apartment,  with  directions  not  to  be  dis- 
turbed, and  in  a  few  hours  he  died. 

The  post-mortem  appearances  were  the  abdomen  containing  from  four 
to  five  pints  of  fluid,  having  much  the  character  of,  but  more  bloody  than, 
that  found  in  cases  of  ascites.  The  peritoneum  seemed  to  be  dyed  from 


218  WORMS. 

its  immersion  in  this  fluid,  as  it  showed  a  general  red  hue,  not  apparently 
deeper  in  some  parts  than  in  others.  There  was  an  absence,  to  a  great 
extent,  of  that  beautiful  appearance  and  well-marked  course  of  the  minute 
blood-vessels  which  accompany  many  cases  of  original  peritonitis.  Ex- 
tending the  examination,  I  found  the  bladder  to  be  ruptured,  and  that  the 
fluid  of  which  I  have  spoken  was  to  a  large  extent  composed  of  urine, 
mingled  with  some  other  secretion  from  the  peritoneal  in  vesture  of  the 
abdomen  and  its  viscera,  probably  produced  from  the  presence  of  an 
irritant,  the  urine  being  brought  into  direct  contact  with  the  membrane. 
Farther  research  showed  that  this  rupture  of  the  bladder  was  caused  in 
the  manner  which  I  have  stated.  The  post-mortem  examination  displayed 
a  chronic  enlargement  of  the  prostate  gland  of  a  considerable  size,  causing 
by  its  pressure  a  mechanical  obstruction  to  the  passage  of  the  urine.  Death 
in  this  instance  was  not  immediately  brought  about  by  the  abnormal  state 
of  the  original  organ  affected ;  but  the  prostate  gland,  having  early  in  the 
life  of  the  animal  become  diseased,  and,  being  gradually  increased  in  size, 
became  a  cause  of  still  more  serious  disease,  attacking  more  important 
organs. 

WORMS. 

There  are  various  kinds  of  worms  to  which  the  dog  is  subject :  they 
have  occasionally  been  confounded  with  each  other ;  but  they  are  essentially 
different  in  the  situations  which  they  occupy,  and  the  effects  which  they 
produce. 

The  ascarides  are  small  thread-like  worms,  generally  not  more  than 
six  or  ten  lines  in  length,  of  a  white  colour,  the  head  obtuse,  and  the  tail 
terminating  in  a  transparent  prolongation.  They  are  principally  found  in 
the  rectum.  They  seem  to  possess  considerable  agility ;  and  the  itching 
which  they  set  up  is  sometimes  absolutely  intolerable.  To  relieve  this, 
the  dog  often  drags  the  fundament  along  the  ground. 

All  the  domesticated  animals  are  subject  to  the  annoyance  which  these 
worms  occasion.  They  roll  themselves  into  balls  as  large  as  a  nut,  and 
become  entangled  so  much  with  each  other  that  it  is  difficult  to  separate 
them.  Sometimes  they  appear  in  the  stomach,  and  in  such  large  masses 
that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  remove  them  by  the  act  of  vomiting.  It  has 
been  said  that  packets  of  ascarides  have  been  collected  in  the  stomach 
containing  more  than  one  hundred  worms.  These  collections  are  rarely 
or  never  got  entirely  rid  of.  Enormous  doses  of  medicine  may  be  given, 
and  the  worms  may  not  be  seen  again  for  several  weeks ;  but,  at  length, 
they  reappear  as  numerous  as  ever. 

Young  dogs  are  exceedingly  subject  to  them,  and  are  with  great  diffi- 
culty perfectly  freed  from  their  attacks. 

Another  species  of  worm  is  the  teres.  It  would  resemble  the  earth- 
worm in  its  appearance,  were  it  not  white  instead  of  a  red  colour.  They 
are  very  common  among  dogs,  especially  young  dogs,  in  whom  they  are 
often  attended  by  fits.  Occasionally  they  crawl  into  the  stomach,  and  there 
produce  a  great  deal  of  irritation. 

Another,  and  the  most  injurious  of  the  intestinal  worms,  is  the  tcenia, 
or  tape-worm.  It  is  many  inches  in  length,  almost  flat  in  the  greater  part 
of  its  extent,  and  its  two  extremities  are  nearly  or  quite  equal.  Tape- 
worms associate  in  groups  like  the  others,  but  they  are  not  so  numerous  ; 
they  chiefly  frequent  the  small  intestines.  They  are  sometimes  apt  to 


WORMS.  219 

coil  themselves,  and  form  a  mechanical  obstruction  which  is  fatal  to  the 
dog. 

The  presence  of  all  these  worms  is  readily  detected.  There  is  generally 
a  dry,  short  cough,  a  staring  coat,  a  hot  and  fetid  breath,  a  voracious  appe- 
tite, and  a  peculiar  state  of  the  bowels  ;  alternately  constipated  to  a  great 
degree,  or  peculiarly  loose  and  griping.  In  young  dogs  the  emaciated 
appearance,  stinted  growth,  fetid  breath,  and  frequent  fits,  are  indications 
not  to  be  mistaken. 

At  other  times,  however,  the  dog  is  filled  with  worms  with  scarcely  any 
indication  of  their  presence.  Mr.  Blaine  very  properly  remarks  that  it 
does  not  follow,  because  no  worms  are  seen  to  pass  away,  that  there  are 
none :  neither  when  they  are  not  seen  does  it  follow  even  that  none  pass  ; 
for,  if  they  remain  long  in  the  intestines  after  they  are  dead,  they  become 
digested  like  other  animal  matter. 

The  means  of  expelling  or  destroying  worms  in  the  intestines  of  the  dog 
are  twofold  :  the  first  and  apparently  the  most  natural  mode  of  proceed- 
ing, is  the  administration  of  purgatives,  and  usually  of  drastic  ones  ;  but 
there  is  much  danger  connected  with  this ;  not  merely  the  faeces  will  be 
expelled,  but  a  greater  or  less  portion  of  the  mucus  that  lines  the  intestinal 
canal.  The  consequence  of  this  will  be  griping  and  inflammation  to  a 
very  dangerous  extent.  Frequent  doses  of  Epsom  salts  have  been  given  ; 
but  not  always  with  success,  and  frequently  with  griping.  Mercurial 
medicines  have  been  tried ;  but  they  have  not  always  succeeded,  and  have 
often  produced  salivation.  One  method  of  expelling  the  worm  has  been 
adopted  which  has  rarely  failed,  without  the  slightest  mischief  —  the 
administration  of  glass  finely  powdered.  Not  a  particle  of  it  pene- 
trates through  the  mucus  that  lines  the  bowels,  while  it  destroys  every 
intestinal  worm.  The  powdered  glass  is  made  into  a  ball  with  lard  and 
ginger. 

The  following  account  of  the  symptoms  caused  by  taenia  may  be  interest- 
ing. A  dog  used  to  be  cheerful,  and  particularly  fond  of  his  master  ;  but 
gradually  his  countenance  became  haggard,  his  eyes  were  red,  his  throat 
was  continually  filled  with  a  frothy  spume,  and  he  stalked  about  with  an 
expression  of  constant  inquietude  and  suffering.  These  circumstances 
naturally  excited  considerable  fear  with  regard  to  the  nature  of  his  disease, 
and  he  was  shut  up  in  a  court,  with  the  intention  of  his  being  destroyed. 
Thus  shut  up,  he  furiously  threw  himself  upon  every  surrounding  object, 
and  tore  them  with  his  teeth  whenever  he  could  seize  them.  He  retired 
into  one  of  the  corners  of  the  court,  and  there  he  was  continually  rubbing 
his  nose,  as  it  were  to  extract  some  foreign  body  ;  sometimes  he  bit  and 
tore  up  the  earth,  barking  and  howling  violently  ;  his  hair  stood  on  end, 
and  his  flanks  were  hollow. 

During  the  whole  of  his  disease  he  continued  to  recognise  his  master. 
He  ran  to  him  at  the  slightest  word.  He  refused  nothing  to  drink ;  but 
he  would  not  eat.  He  was  killed  on  account  of  the  fear  excited  among  the 
neighbours. 

The  veterinary  surgeon  who  attended  him  suspected  that  there  was  some 
affection  of  the  head,  on  account  of  the  strange  manner  in  which  he  had 
rubbed  and  beaten  it.  The  superior  part  of  the  nose  was  opened,  and  two 
tsenise  lanceolatae  were  found  :  it  was  plain  enough  that  they  were  the 
cause  of  all  the  mischief. 

The  proprietor  of  the  dog  nevertheless  believed  that  it  was  a  case  of 


220  WORMS. 

rabies  ;  he  had  the  caustic  applied  to  his  hands,  and  could  not  persuade 
himself  that  he  was  safe  until  he  had  been  at  the  baths  of  Bourbonne.a 

There  is  a  worm  inhabiting  the  stomach  of  young  dogs,  the  Ascaris 
Marginata,  a  frequent  source  of  sickness,  and  occasionally  of  spasmodic 
colic,  by  rolling  itself  into  knots.  It  seems  occasionally  to  take  a  dislike 
to  its  assigned  residence,  and  wanders  into  the  ossophagus,  but  rarely  into 
the  larger  intestines.  A  dog  had  a  severe  cough,  which  could  not  be  sub- 
dued by  bleeding  or  physic,  or  sedative  or  opiate  medicines.  He  was 
destroyed  and  one  of  these  ascarides;  was  found  in  the  trachea.  Others 
find  their  way  into  the  nasal  cavity ;  and  a  dreadful  source  of  irritation 
they  are  when  they  are  endeavouring  to  escape,  in  order  to  undergo  one 
of  the  changes  of  form  to  which  they  are  destined,  or  when  they  have  been 
forced  into  the  nostril  in  the  act  of  vomiting. 

I  once  had  a  dog  as  a  patient  whose  case,  I  confess,  I  did  not  under- 
stand. He  would  sneeze  and  snort,  and  rub  his  head  and  nose  along  the 
carpet.  I  happened  to  say  that  the  symptoms  in  some  respects  resembled 
those  of  rabies,  and  yet,  that  I  could  not  satisfy  myself  that  the  dog  was 
rabid.,  The  mention  of  rabies  was  sufficient,  and  in  defiance  of  my  re- 
monstrances the  animal  was  destroyed. 

The  previous  symptoms  led  me  to  examine  the  nasal  cavity,  and  I  found 
two  of  these  ascarides,  one  concealed  in  the  middle  and  the  other  in  the 
upper  meatus,  through  neither  of  which  could  any  strong  current  of  air  be 
forced,  and  from  which  the  ascarides  could  not  be  dislodged. 

Worms  may  be  the  cause  of  sudden  death  in  a  dog.  The  following  case, 
communicated  by  Professor  Dick,  illustrates  this  fact : — I  lately  had  the 
body  of  a  dog  sent  to  me  :  his  owner  sent  the  following  letter  by  the  same 
conveyance.  "  My  keeper  went  out  shooting  yesterday  morning  with  the 
dog  which  I  now  send  to  you.  He  was  quite  lively,  and  apparently  well, 
during  the  former  part  of  the  day ;  but  towards  evening  he  was  seized 
with  violent  vomiting.  When  he  came  home  he  refused  to  eat,  and  this 
morning  about  eight  o'clock  he  died.  As  I  have  lost  all  my  best  dogs 
rather  suddenly,  I  will  thank  you  to  have  him  examined,  and  the  contents 
of  his  stomach  analyzed  ;  and  have  the  kindness  to  inform  me  whether  he 
has  been  poisoned,  or  what  was  the  cause  of  his  death." 

On  opening  the  abdomen,  the  viscera  appeared  quite  healthy :  the 
stomach  was  removed,  and  the  contents  were  found  to  be  more  decidedly 
acid  than  usual.  The  acids  were  the  muriatic  and  acetic  :  the  finding  of 
an  increased  quantity  of  these  is  far  from  being  unusual.  There  was  not 
a  trace  of  arsenical,  mercurial,  nor  any  other  metallic  poison  present.  Of 
the  vegetable  poisons,  I  can  only  say  that  there  was  not  the  slightest  trace 
of  the  morbid  effects  of  any  of  them.  The  pericardium  and  the  left  side 
of  the  thorax  contained  a  small  quantity  of  bloody  serous  fluid,  and  the 
heart  was  full  of  black  blood.  The  left  lung  was  a  little  inflamed.  The 
trachea  contained  some  frothy  yellow  mucous  matter,  similar  to  the  con- 
tents of  the  stomach.  In  the  larynx  was  found  one  of  those  worms  occa- 
sionally inhabiting  the  cavities  of  the  nose,  and  which  had  probably  escaped 
from  the  nose  while  the  dog  had  been  hunting,  and,  lodging  in  the  larynx, 
had  destroyed  the  animal  by  producing  spasms  of  the  muscles  of  the  larynx. 
The  worm  was  about  one  inch  and  a  half  in  length,  and  had  partly  penetrated 
through  the  rima  glottidis.  Another  worm  about  the  same  size  was  found 

*  Prat.  Med.  Ve't.  1824,  p.  14. 


FISTULA  IN  THE  ANUS.  221 

in  the  left  bronchia,  and  a  still  smaller  one  among  the  mucus  of  the  trachea : 
there  were  also  four  others  in  the  nose. 

Several  years  ago  I  found  some  worms  of  thefilacia  species  in  the  right 
ventricle  of  the  heart  of  a  dog,  which  had  produced  sudden  death  by  in- 
terrupting the  action  of  the  valves. 

The  following  is  a  curious  case  of  tape-worm,  by  Mr.  Reynold  :  — 

On  an  estate  where  a  great  qiiantity  of  rabbits  are  annually  destroyed 
in  the  month  of  November,  we  have  observed  that  several  dogs  that 
were  previously  in  good  health  and  condition  soon  became  weak,  listless, 
and  excessively  emaciated,  frequently  passing  large  portions  of  the  tape- 
worm. This  induced  us  to  examine  the  intestines  of  several  hares  and 
rabbits  ;  and,  with  very  few  exceptions,  we  found  each  to  contain  a  perfect 
tape-worm  from  three  to  four  feet  in  length.  We  then  caused  two  of  the 
dogs  whose  cases  appeared  the  worst  to  be  separated  from  the  others,  feeding 
them  on  potatoes,  &c.  ;  and,  in  eight  or  ten  days,  after  voiding  several  feet 
of  the  worms,  they  were  perfectly  restored  to  their  former  strength  and 
appearance.  The  worm  disease,  hitherto  so  formidable  to  the  spaniel  and 
pointer,  may  in  a  great  measure  be  fairly  attributed  to  the  custom  of 
giving  them  the  intestines  of  their  game,  under  the  technical  appellation 
of  "  the  paunch."  The  facts  above  stated,  in  explaining  the  cause  of  the 
disease,  at  the  same  time  suggest  the  remedy. 

A  worm  in  the  urethra  of  a  dog. — M.  Seon,  veterinary  surgeon  of  the 
Lancers  of  the  Body  Guard,  was  requested  to  examine  a  dog  who  strained 
in  vain  to  void  his  urine,  often  uttering  dreadful  cries,  and  then  eagerly 
licking  his  penis.  M.  Seon,  after  having  tried  in  vain  to  abate  the  irri- 
tation, endeavoured  to  pass  an  elastic  bougie.  He  perceived  a  conical  body 
half  an  inch  long  protruding  from  the  urethra  with  each  effort  of  the  dog 
to  void  his  urine,  and  immediately  afterwards  returning  into  the  urethra.  He 
crushed  it  with  a  pair  of  forceps,  and  drew  it  out.  It  proved  to  be  a  worm 
resembling  a  strongylus,  four  and  a  half  inches  long.  It  was  living,  and 
moving  about.  M.  Seon  could  not  ascertain  its  species.  The  worm  be- 
ing extracted,  the  urine  flowed,  and  the  dog  soon  recovered.* 

FISTULA  IN  THE  ANUS. 

This  is  a  too  frequent  consequence  of  piles.  It  is  often  the  result  of  the 
stagnation  of  hardened  faeces  in  the  rectum,  which  produces  inflammation 
and  ulceration,  and  frequently  leaves  a  fistulous  opening.  If  we  may  judge 
what  the  quadruped  suffers  by  the  sufferings  of  human  beings,  it  is  a 
sadly  painful  affair,  whether  the  fistula  is  external  or  internal.  Whether 
it  may  be  cured  by  a  mild  stimulant  daily  inserted  to  the  bottom  of  the 
abscess,  or  whether  there  is  a  communication  with  the  opening  of  the  rectum 
which  buries  itself  in  the  cellular  tissues  around  it,  and  requires  an  opera- 
tion for  its  cure,  it  will  require  the  assistance  of  a  skilful  surgeon  to  effect 
a  cure  in  this  case. 

*  Prat.  Med.  Ve't.,  Fev.  1828. 


222  BLEEDING. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

BLEEDING  ;    TORSION  ;    CASTRATION  ;    PARTURITION  ;    AND  SOME 
DISEASES  CONNECTED  WITH  THE  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION. 

BLEEDING. 

THIS  operation  is  exceedingly  useful  in  many  accidents  and  diseases.  It 
is,  in  fact,  as  in  the  horse,  the  sheet-anchor  of  the  practitioner  in  the  ma- 
jority of  cases  of  an  inflammatory  character.  There  is  some  difference, 
however,  in  the  instrument  to  be  used.  The  lancet  is  the  preferable 
instrument  in  the  performance  of  this  operation.  The  fleam  should  be 
banished  from  among  the  instruments  of  the  veterinary  surgeon. 

A  ligature  being  passed  round  the  lower  part  of  the  neck,  and  the  head 
being  held  up  a  little  on  one  side,  the  vein  will  protrude  on  either  side  of 
the  windpipe.  It  will  usually  be  advisable  to  cut  away  a  little  of  the  hair 
over  the  spot  designed  to  be  punctured.  When  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
blood  is  abstracted,  it  will  generally  be  necessary,  and  especially  if  the  dog 
is  large,  to  pass  a  pin  through  both  edges  of  the  orifice,  and  secure  it  with 
a  little  tow. 

When  no  lancet  is  at  hand,  the  inside  of  the  flap  of  the  ear  may  be  punc- 
tured with  a  pen-knife,  the  course  of  a  v.ein  being  selected  for  this  purpose. 
In  somewhat  desperate  cases  a  small  portion  of  the  tail  may  be  amputated. 

The  superficial  brachial  vein,  the  cephalic  vein  of  the  human  subject, 
and  the  plat  vein  of  the  farrier,  may  be  resorted  to  in  all  lamenesses  of  the 
fore  limb,  and  especially  in  all  shoulder-wrenches,  strains  of  the  loins,  and 
of  the  thigh  and  the  leg,  and  muscular  and  ligamentous  extensions  of  any 
part  of  the  hind  limbs  ;  the  vena  saphena  major,  and  the  anterior  tibialvein 
may  be  punctured  in  such  cases. 

The  quantity  of  blood  to  be  abstracted  must  be  regulated  according  to 
the  size  and  strength  of  the  dog  and  the  degree  of  inflammation. 

One  or  two  ounces  may  be  sufficient  for  a  very  small  dog,  and  seven  or 
eight  for  a  large  one. 

TORSION. 

To  M.  Amusat,  of  Paris,  we  are  indebted  for  the  introduction  of  the 
artery-forceps  for  the  arresting  of  hemorrhage.  I  shall  do  but  justice  to 
him  by  describing  his  mode  of  proceeding.  He  seizes  the  divided  vessel 
with  a  pair  of  torsion-forceps  in  such  a  manner  as  to  hold  and  close  the 
mouth  of  the  vessel  in  its  teeth.  The  slide  of  the  forceps  then  shuts  its 
blade,  and  the  artery  is  held  fast.  The  artery  is  then  drawn  from  out  of 
the  tissues  surrounding  it,  to  the  extent  of  a  few  lines,  and  freed,  with 
another  forceps,  from  its  cellular  envelope,  so  as  to  lay  bare  its  external 
coat.  The  index  and  thumb  of  the  left  hand  are  then  applied  above  the 
forceps,  in  order  to  press  back  the  blood  in  the  vessel.  He  then  begins 
to  twist  the  artery.  One  of  the  methods  consists  in  continuing  the  torsion 
until  the  part  held  in  the  forceps  is  detached.  When,  however,  the 


TORSION.  223 

operator  does  not  intend  to  produce  that  effect,  he  ceases,  after  from 
four  to  six  revolutions  of  the  vessel  on  its  axis  for  the  small  arteries,  and 
from  eight  to  twelve  for  the  large  ones.  The  hemorrhage  instantly  stops. 
The  vessel  which  had  been  drawn  out  is  then  replaced,  as  the  surrounding 
parts  give  support  to  the  knot  which  has  been  formed  at  its  extremities. 
The  knot  becomes  further  concealed  by  the  retraction  of  the  artery,  and 
this  retraction  will  be  proportionate  to  the  shortening  which  takes  place 
by  the  effect  of  the  twisting,  so  that  it  will  be  scarcely  visible  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  stump.  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  seize  the  artery 
perfectly,  and  to  make  the  stated  number  of  twists,  as  otherwise  the  secu- 
rity against  the  danger  of  consecutive  hemorrhage  will  not  be  perfect. 

Mr.  W.  B.  Costello,  of  London,  was  present  when  the  operation  was  per- 
formed at  Paris.  He  brought  back  a  full  account  of  it  as  performed  there, 
arid  availed  himself  of  an  early  opportunity  of  putting  it  to  the  test  before 
some  of  our  metropolitan  surgeons.  A  dog  was  placed  on  the  table,  the 
forceps  were  applied,  and  the  operation  perfectly  succeeded. 

A  few  days  afterwards  a  pointer  bitch  was  brought  to  my  infirmary, 
with  a  large  scirrhous  tumour  near  the  anterior  teat  on  the  left  side.  It 
had  been  gradually  increasing  during  the  last  five  months.  It  was  becom- 
ing more  irregular  in  its  form,  and  on  one  of  its  tuberculous  prominencies 
was  a  reddish  spot,  soft  and  somewhat  tender,  indicating  that  the  process 
of  suppuration  was  about  to  commence. 

I  had  often,  or  almost  uniformly,  experienced  the  power  of  iodine  in 
dispersing  glandular  enlargements  in  the  neck  of  the  dog,  and  also  those 
indurated  tumours  of  various  kinds  which  form  about  the  joints  of  some 
domesticated  animals,  particularly  of  cattle  ;  but  frequent  disappointment 
had  convinced  me  that  it  was,  if  not  inert,  yet  very  uncertain  in  its  effect 
in  causing  absorption  of  tumours  about  the  mammae  of  the  bitch.  Having 
also  been  taught  that  the  ultimate  success  of  the  excision  of  these  enlarge- 
ments depended  on  their  removal  before  suppuration  had  taken  place,  and 
the  neighbouring  parts  had  been  inoculated  by  the  virus  which  so  plenti- 
fully flowed  from  the  ulcer,  I  determined  on  an  immediate  operation  ;  and, 
as  the  tumour  was  large,  and  she  was  in  high  condition,  I  thought  it  a 
good  case  for  the  first  trial  of  torsion.  She  was  well  physicked,  and  on 
the  third  day  was  produced  before  my  class  and  properly  secured.  I  had 
not  provided  myself  with  the  torsion  forceps,  but  relied  on  the  hold  I 
should  have  on  the  vessel  by  means  of  a  pair  of  common  artery  forceps ; 
and  the  effect  of  these  imperfect  instruments  beautifully  established  the 
power  of  torsion  in  arresting  hemorrhage. 

Two  elliptical  incisions  were  made  on  the  face  of  the  tumour,  and  pro- 
longed anteriorly  and  posteriorly  about  an  inch  from  it.  The  portion  of 
integument  that  could  be  spared  was  thus  enclosed,  while  the  opposed 
edges  of  the  wound  could  be  neatly  and  effectually  brought  together  after 
the  operation.  The  dissection  of  the  integument  from  the  remaining  part 
of  the  face  of  the  tumour  was  somewhat  slow  and  difficult,  for  it  was  in  a 
manner  identified  with  the  hardened  mass  beneath  ;  but  the  operation  soon 
proceeded  more  quickly,  and  we  very  soon  had  the  scirrhus  exposed,  and 
adhering  to  the  thorax  by  its  base.  About  two  ounces  of  venous  blood 
had  now  been  lost. 

I  was  convinced  that  I  should  find  the  principal  artery,  by  which  the 
excrescence  was  fed,  at  its  anterior  extremity,  and  not  far  from  the  spot 
where  the  suppuration  seemed  to  be  preparing :  therefore,  beginning  pos- 


224  CASTRATION. 

teriorly,  I  very  rapidly  cut  through  the  cellular  texture,  elevating  the 
tumour  and  turning  it  back,  until  I  arrived  at  the  inner  and  anterior  point, 
and  there  was  the  only  source  of  supply  ;  the  artery  was  plainly  to  be 
seen.  In  order  to  give  the  experiment  a  fair  chance,  I  would  not  enclose  it 
in  the  forceps,  but  I  cut  through  it.  A  jet  of  blood  spirted  out.  I  then 
seized  the  vessel  as  quickly  as  I  could,  and  began  to  turn  the  forceps,  but 
before  I  could  effect  more  than  a  turn  and  a  half  I  lost  my  hold  on  the 
artery.  I  was  vexed,  and  paused,  waiting  for  the  renewed  gush  of  blood 
that  I  might  seize  the  vessel  again ;  but  to  my  surprise  not  a  drop  more 
blood  came  from  the  arterial  trunk.  That  turn  and  a  half,  considerable 
pressure  having  been  used,  had  completely  arrested  the  hemorrhage.  I  can 
safely  say  that  not  more  than  four  drachms  of  arterial  blood  were  lost. 

The  wound  was  sponged  clean :  there  remained  only  a  very  slight  oozing 
from  two  or  three  points  ;  the  flaps  were  brought  together,  secured  by  the 
ordinary  sutures,  and  the  proper  bandages  applied.  The  weight  of  the 
tumour  was  twenty-two  ounces ;  there  was  no  after  bleeding,  no  unpleasant 
occurrences ;  but  the  wound,  which  had  been  nearly  six  inches  in  length, 
was  closed  in  little  more  than  three  weeks. 

He  will  essentially  promote  the  cause  of  science,  and  the  cause  of  hu- 
manity, who  will  avail  himself  of  the  opportunity  which  country  practice 
affords  of  putting  the  effect  of  torsion  to  the  test ;  and  few  things  will  be 
more  gratifying  than  the  consciousness  of  rescuing  our  patients  from  the 
unnecessary  infliction  of  torture. 

In  docking,  it  will  be  found  perfectly  practicable :  our  patients  will 
escape  much  torture,  and  tetanus  will  often  be  avoided.  The  principal 
danger  from  castration  has  arisen  from  the  severity  with  which  the  iron 
has  been  employed.  The  colt,  the  sheep,  and  the  dog  will  be  fair  subjects 
for  experiment.  The  cautery,  as  it  regards  the  first,  and  the  brutal  vio- 
lence too  frequently  resorted  to  in  operating  upon  the  others,  have  destroyed 
thousands  of  animals. 

CASTRATION. 

This  operation  is  performed  on  a  great  portion  of  our  domestic  animals. 
It  renders  them  more  docile,  and  gives  them  a  disposition  to  fatten.  It 
is  followed  by  fewest  serious  accidents  when  it  is  performed  on  young 
animals.  The  autumn  or  spring  should,  if  possible,  be  chosen  for  the 
operation,  for  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere  is  then  generally  uniform 
and  moderate.  It  should  be  previously  ascertained  that  the  animal  is  in 
perfect  health  ;  and  he  should  be  prepared  by  a  mash  diet  and  bleeding,  if 
he  is  in  a  plethoric  state,  or  possessed  of  considerable  determination.  If 
it  is  a  young  animal  that  is  to  be  operated  upon,  an  incision  may  he  made 
into  the  scrotum,  the  testicle  may  be  protruded,  and  the  cord  cut  without 
much  precaution,  for  the  blood  will  soon  be  stayed  ;  but  for  older  animals 
it  will  be  advisable  to  use  a  ligature,  applied  moderately  tightly  round 
the  spermatic  cord  a  little  more  than  an  inch  beyond  its  insertion  into 
the  testicle :  the  scalpel  is  then  used,  and  a  separation  effected  between 
the  ligature  and  the  testis.  The  vas  deferens  needs  not  to  be  included  ;  a 
great  deal  of  pain  will  then  be  spared  to  the  animal. 

The  ordinary  consequences  of  castration  are  pain,  inflammation,  en- 
gorgement, and  suppuration.  The  pain  and  suppuration  are  inevitable, 
but  generally  yield  to  emollient  applications.  The  engorgement  is  often 
considerable  at  first,  but  soon  subsides,  and  the  suppuration  usually  abates 


PARTURITION.  225 

in  the  course  of  a  few  days.  It  has  been  said  that  the  castrated  dog  is 
more  attached  and  faithful  to  his  master  than  he  who  has  not  been 
deprived  of  his  genital  powers :  this,  however,  is  much  to  be  doubted. 
He  has,  generally  speaking,  lost  a  considerable  portion  of  his  courage,  his 
energy,  and  his  strength.  He  is  apt  to  become  idle,  and  is  disposed  to 
accumulate  fat  more  rapidly.  His  power  of  scent  is  also  very  considerably 
diminished,  and  he  is  less  qualified  for  the  sports  of  the  field.  Of  this 
there  can  be  no  doubt.  It  has  been  said  that  he  is  more  submissive  :  I 
very  much  doubt  the  accuracy  of  that  opinion.  He  may  not  be  so  savage 
as  in  his  perfect  state ;  he  may  not  be  so  eager  in  his  feeding  ;  but  there 
is  not  the  devotion  to  his  master,  and  the  quickness  of  comprehension  which 
belongs  to  the  perfect  dog. 

The  removal  of  the  ovaries,  or  spaying  of  the  female,  used  to  be  often 
practised,  and  packs  of  spayed  bitches  were,  and  still  are,  occasionally 
kept.  In  performing  this  operation,  an  opening  is  made  into  the  flank 
on  one  side,  and  the  finger  introduced — one  of  the  ovaries  is  laid  hold 
of  and  drawn  a  little  out  of  the  belly ;  a  ligature  is  then  applied  round 
it,  just  above  the  bifurcation  of  the  womb,  and  it  is  cut  through,  the 
end  of  the  ligature  being  left  hanging  out  of  the  wound.  The  other 
ovary  is  then  felt  for  and  drawn  out,  and  excised  and  secured  by  a  liga- 
ture. The  wound  is  then  sewed  up,  and  a  bandage  is  placed  over  the 
incision.  Some  farriers  do  not  apply  any  ligature,  but  simply  sew  up  the 
wound,  and  in  the  majority  of  cases  the  edges  adhere,  and  no  harm  comes 
of  the  operation,  except  that  the  general  character  of  the  animal  is  essen- 
tially changed.  She  accumulates  a  vast  quantity  of  fat,  becomes  listless  and 
idle,  and  is  almost  invariably  short-lived. 

The  female  dog,  therefore,  should  always  be  allowed  to  breed. 
Breeding  is  a  necessary  process  ;  and  the  female  prevented  from  it  is  sure 
to  be  affected  with  disease  sooner  or  later;  enormous  collections  and 
indurations  will  form  that  will  inevitably  terminate  in  scirrhus  or 
ulceration. 

A  troublesome  process  often  occurs  when  the  female  is  not  permitted  to 
have  young  ones,  namely,  the  accumulation  of  milk  in  the  teats,  especially 
if  at  any  previous  time,  however  distant,  she  may  have  had  puppies  once. 
The  foundation  is  laid  for  many  unpleasant  and  unmanageable  complaints. 
If  she  is  suffered  to  bring  up  one  litter  after  another,  she  will  have  better 
health  than  those  that  are  debarred  from  intercourse  with  the  male. 

The  temporary  union  which  takes  place  between  the  male  and  female 
at  the  period  at  which  they  are  brought  together  is  a  very  singular  one. 
The  corpora  cavernosa  of  the  male  and  the  clitoris  of  the  female  being 
suddenly  distended  with  blood,  it  is  impossible  to  withdraw  either  of  them 
until  the  turgescence  of  the  parts  has  entirely  ceased, 

PARTURITION. 

The  pupping  usually  takes  place  from  the  sixty -second  to  the  sixty- 
fourth  day ;  and  the  process  having  commenced,  from  a  quarter  to  three 
quarters  of  an  hour  generally  takes  place  between  the  production  of  each 

puppy- 
Great  numbers  of  bitches  are  lost  every  year  in  the  act  of  parturition  : 
there  seems  to  be  a  propensity  in  the  females  to  associate  with  dogs  larger 
than  themselves,  and  they  pay  for  it  with  their  lives.     The  most  neglected 

Q 


226  PARTURITION. 

circumstance  during  the  period  of  pregnancy  is  the  little  exercise  which 
the  mother  is  permitted  to  take,  while,  in  point  of  fact,  nothing  tends  more 
to  safe  and  easy  parturition  than  her  being  permitted  or  compelled  to  take 
a  fair  quantity  of  exercise. 

When  the  time  of  parturition  has  arrived,  and  there  is  evident  difficulty 
in  producing  the  foetus,  recourse  should  be  had  to  the  ergot  of  rye,  which 
should  be  given  every  hour  or  half  hour,  according  to  circumstances.  If 
after  a  certain  time  some,  although  little,  progress  has  been  made,  the 
ergot  must  be  continued  in  smaller  doses,  or  perhaps  suspended  for  a 
while ;  but,  if  all  progress  is  evidently  suspended,  recourse  must  be  had 
to  the  hook  or  the  forceps.  By  gentle  but  continued  manipulation  much 
may  be  done,  especially  when  the  muzzle  of  the  puppy  can  be  brought 
into  the  passage.  As  little  force  as  possible  must  be  used,  and  especially 
the  foetus  little  broken.  Many  a  valuable  animal  is  destroyed  by  the 
undue  application  of  force. 

If  the  animal  seems  to  be  losing  strength,  a  small  quantity  of  laudanum 
and  ether  may  be  administered.  "  The  patience  of  bitches  in  labour  is 
extreme,"  says  Mr.  Elaine ;  "  and  their  distress,  if  not  removed,  is  most 
striking  and  affecting.  Their  look  is  at  such  time  particularly  expressive 
and  apparently  imploring."  When  the  pupping  is  protracted,  and  the 
young  ones  are  evidently  dead,  the  mother  may  be  saved,  if  none  of  the 
puppies  have  been  broken.  In  process  of  time  the  different  puppies  may,  one 
after  another,  be  extracted  ;  but  when  violence  has  been  used  at  the  com- 
mencement, or  almost  at  any  part  of  the  process,  death  will  assuredly  follow. 

June  15,  1832. — A  spaniel  bitch  was  brought  to  my  infirmary  to-day, 
who  has  been  in  great  and  constant  pain  since  yesterday,  making  repeated 
but  fruitless  efforts  to  expel  her  puppies.  She  is  in  a  very  plethoric 
habit  of  body ;  her  bowels  are  much  confined,  and  she  exhibits  some  ge- 
neral symptoms  of  febrile  derangement,  arising,  doubtless,  from  her  pro- 
tracted labour.  This  is  her  first  litter.  Upon  examination  no  young 
could  be  distinctly  felt. 

Place  her  in  a  warm  bath,  and  give  her  a  dose  of  castor  oil,  morn- 
ing and  evening. 

June  16. — The  bitch  appears  in  the  same  state  as  yesterday,  except 
that  the  medicine  has  operated  freely  upon  the  bowels,  and  the  febrile 
symptoms  have  somewhat  decreased.  Her  strainings  are  as  frequent  and 
distressing  as  ever.  Take  two  scruples  of  the  ergot  of  rye,  and  divide  into 
six  doses,  of  which  let  one  be  given  every  half  hour. 

In  about  ten  minutes  after  the  exhibition  of  the  last  dose  of  this 
medicine,  she  brought  forth,  with  great  difficulty,  one  dead  puppy ;  upon 
taking  which  away  from  her,  she  became  so  uneasy  that  I  was  induced  to 
return  it  to  her.  In  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  this  I  paid  her 
another  visit ;  the  puppy  could  not  now  be  found  ;  but  a  suspicious  appear- 
ance in  the  mother's  eye  betrayed  at  once  that  she  had  devoured  it.  I  im- 
mediately administered  an  emetic ;  and  in  a  very  short  time  the  whole 
foetus  was  returned  in  five  distinct  parts,  viz.  the  four  quarters  and  the  head. 
After  this,  the  bitch  began  to  amend  very  fast ;  she  produced  no  other  puppy; 
and  as  her  supply  of  milk  was  small,  she  was  soon  convalescent. 

Twelve  months  afterwards  she  was  again  taken  in  labour,  about  eleven 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  after  very  great  difficulty,  one  puppy  was 
produced.  After  this  the  bitch  appeared  in  great  pain,  but  did  not  suc- 
ceed in  expelling  another  foetus,  in  consequence  of  which  I  was  sent  for 


4 

PARTURITION.  227 

about  three  o'clock  P.M.  I  found  her  very  uneasy,  breathing  laboriously ; 
the  mouth  hot,  and  the  bowels  costive  ;  but  I  could  not  discover  any  trace 
of  another  foetus.  She  was  put  into  a  warm  bath,  and  a  dose  of  opening 
medicine  was  administered. 

About  five  o'clock  she  got  rid  of  one  dead  and  two  living  puppies. 

2nd.  She  is  still  very  ill ;  she  evinces  great  pain  when  pressed  upon  the 
abdomen ;  and  it  is  manifest  that  she  has  another  foetus  within  her.  I 
ordered  a  dose  of  the  ergot,  and  in  about  twenty  minutes  a  large  puppy 
was  produced,  nearly  dying.  She  survived  with  due  care. 

I  cannot  refrain  from  inserting  the  following  case  at  considerable  length  : 

Sept.  4,  1820. — A  very  diminutive  terrier,  weighing  not  5  Ibs.,  was  sent 
to  my  hospital  in  order  to  lie  in.  She  was  already  restless  and  panting. 
About  eight  o'clock  at  night  the  labour  pains  commenced  ;  but  until  eleven 
scarcely  any  progress  was  made.  The  os  uteri  would  not  admit  my  finger, 
although  I  frequently  attempted  it. 

At  half-past  eleven,  the  membranes  began  to  protrude ;  at  one  the  head 
had  descended  into  the  pelvis  and  the  puppy  was  dead.  In  a  previous 
labour  she  had  been  unable  to  produce  her  young,  although  the  ergot 
of  rye  had  been  freely  used.  I  was  obliged  to  use  considerable  force, 
and  she  fought  terribly  with  me  throughout  the  whole  process.  At  half- 
past  one,  and  after  applying  considerable  force,  I  brought  away  a  large 
foetus,  compared  with  her  own  size.  On  passing  my  finger  as  high  as 
possible,  I  felt  another  foetus  living,  but  the  night  passed  and  the  whole 
of  the  following  day,  and  she  ate  and  drank,  and  did  not  appear  to  be 
much  injured. 

Several  times  in  the  day  I  gave  her  some  strong  soup  and  the  ergot. 
Some  slight  pains  now  returned,  and  by  pressing  on  the  belly  the  nose  of 
the  foetus  was  brought  to  the  superior  edge  of  the  pelvis.  The  pains 
again  ceased,  the  pudenda  began  to  swell  from  frequent  examination,  the 
bitch  began  to  stagger,  and  made  frequent  attempts  to  void  her  urine : 
with  extreme  difficulty  in  accomplishing  it.  I  now  resorted  to  the  crotchet ; 
and  after  many  unsuccessful  attempts,  in  which  the  superior  part  of  the 
vagina  must  have  been  considerably  bruised,  I  fixed  it  sufficiently  firmly  to 
draw  the  head  into  the  cavity  of  the  pelvis.  Here  for  a  while  the  shoulder 
resisted  every  attempt  which  I  could  make  without  the  danger  of  detrun- 
cating the  foetus.  At  length  by  working  at  the  side  of  the  head  until 
my  nails  were  soft  and  my  fingers  sore,  I  extracted  one  fore  leg.  The  other 
was  soon  brought  down  ;  another  large  puppy  was  produced,  but  destroyed 
by  the  means  necessary  for  its  production.  This  was  the  fruit  of  two  hours' 
hard  work. 

She  was  completely  exhausted,  and  scarcely  able  to  stand.  When 
placed  on  the  ground  she  staggered  and  fell  at  almost  every  step.  Her 
efforts  to  void  her  urine  were  frequent  and  ineffectual. 

At  four  o'clock  I  again  examined  her ;  the  external  pudenda  were  sore 
and  swelled,  and  beginning  to  assume  a  black  hue.  It  was  with  con- 
siderable difficulty  that  I  could  introduce  my  finger.  A  third  foetus 
irregularly  presented  was  detected.  I  could  just  feel  one  of  the  hind 
legs.  No  time  was  to  be  lost.  I  introduced  a  small  pair  of  forceps  by 
the  side  of  my  finger,  and  succeeded  in  laying  hold  of  the  leg  without 
much  difficulty,  and,  with  two  or  three  weak  efforts  from  the  mother, — I 
could  scarcely  call  them  pains, — I  brought  the  leg  down  until  it  was  in 
the  cavity  of  the  pelvis.  I  solicited  it  forward  with  my  finger,  and,  by 

Q2 


228  PARTURITION. 

forcibly  pressing  back  the  labia  pudendi,  I  could  just  grasp  it  with  the 
finger  and  thumb  of  the  right  hand.  Holding  it  there,  I  introduced  the 
finger  of  the  right  hand,  and  continued  to  get  down  the  other  leg,  and 
then  found  little  difficulty  until  the  head  was  brought  to  the  superior  edge 
of  the  pelvis.  After  a  long  interval,  and  with  considerable  force,  this  was 
brought  into  the  pelvis,  and  another  puppy  extracted.  This  fully  occupied 
two  hours. 

The  bitch  now  appeared  almost  lifeless.  As  she  was  unable  to  stand, 
and  seemed  unconscious  of  every  thing  around  her,  I  concluded  that  she 
was  lost :  I  gave  her  one  or  two  drops  of  warm  brandy  and  water,  covered 
her  up  closely,  and  put  her  to  bed. 

To  my  surprise,  on  the  following  morning,  she  was  curled  round  in  her 
basket ;  she  licked  my  hands,  and  ate  a  bit  of  bread  and  butter  ;  but 
when  put  on  her  legs  staggered  and  fell.  The  pudendum  was  dreadfully 
swollen,  and  literally  black.  In  the  afternoon  she  again  took  a  little 
food  :  she  came  voluntarily  from  her  basket,  wagged  her  tail  when  spoken 
to,  and  on  the  following  day  she  was  taken  in  her  basket  a  journey  of  70 
miles,  and  afterwards  did  well ;  no  one  could  be  more  rejoiced  than  was 
her  master,  who  was  present  at,  and  superintended  the  greater  part  of  the 
proceedings. 

The  beneficial  effect  of  Ergot  of  Rye  in  difficult  Parturition. — The 
following  ease  is  from  the  pen  of  Professor  Dick  : — On  the  10th  instant, 
a  pointer  bitch  produced  two  puppies  ;  and  it  was  thought  by  the  person 
having  her  in  charge  that  she  had  no  more.  She  was  put  into  a  com- 
fortable box,  and  with  a  little  care  was  expected  to  do  well.  On  the  next 
morning,  however,  she  was  sick  and  breathed  heavily,  and  continued 
rather  uneasy  all  the  day. 

On  the  forenoon  of  the  following  day  I  was  requested  to  see  her.  I 
found  her  with  her  nose  dry,  breath  hot,  respiration  frequent,  mouth  hot 
and  parched,  coat  staring,  back  reached,  pulse  120,  and  a  black  fetid  dis- 
charge from  the  vagina.  Pressure  on  the  abdomen  gave  pain.  A  pup 
could  be  obscurely  felt ;  the  secretion  of  milk  was  suppressed,  and  the 
skin  had  lost  its  natural  elasticity. 

Tepid  water  with  a  little  soap  dissolved  in  it  was  immediately  injected 
into  the  uterus,  which  in  a  considerable  degree  excited  its  action ;  and  this 
injection  was  repeated  two  or  three  times  with  the  same  effect. 

After  waiting  for  half  an  hour,  the  foetus  was  not  discharged  nor  brought 
forward ;  therefore  a  scruple  of  the  ergot  of  rye  was  then  made  into  an 
infusion  with  two  ounces  of  water,  and  one-^third  of  it  given  as  a  dose ;  in 
half  an  hour  another  one-third  of  it ;  the  injections  of  warm  water  and 
soap  being  also  continued.  Soon  after  the  second  dose  of  the  infusion,  a 
dead  puppy  was  expelled ;  the  bitch  rapidly  recovered,  and,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  deficiency  of  milk,  is  now  quite  well. 

This  case  would  seem  to  prove  the  great  power  of  the  ergot  of  rye  over 
the  uterus ;  but,  until  more  experiments  are  made,  it  is  necessary  to  be 
cautious  in  ascribing  powers  to  medicines  which  have  not  been  much  tried 
in  our  practice.  It  is  not  improbable  that  the  warm  water  and  soap  might 
have  roused  the  uterus  into  action  without  the  aid  of  the  ergot ;  and  it  is 
therefore  necessary  that  those  who  repeat  this  experiment  should  try  the 
effects  of  the  medicine  unaided  by  the  auxiliary. 

The  Professor  adds,  that  the  great  power  which  this  drug  is  said  to  have 
on  the  human  being,  and  the  apparent  effect  in  the  case  just  given,  suggest 


PUERPERAL  FITS.  229 

the  propriety  of  instituting  a  further  trial  of  it,  and  of  our  extending  our 
observations  to  cattle,  amongst  which  difficult  cases  of  calving  so  frequently 
occur. 

Mr.  Simpson  thus  concludes  some  remarks  on  ergot  in  difficult  parturi- 
tion. This  medicine  possesses  a  very  great  power  over  the  uterus,  rousing 
its  dormant  or  debilitated  contractility,  and  stimulating  it  to  an  extra  per- 
formance of  this  necessary  function  after  its  natural  energy  has  been  in 
some  measure  destroyed  by  forcible  but  useless  action.  The  direct  utility 
of  the  ergot  was  manifested  in  cases  where  the  uterus  appeared  quite  ex- 
hausted by  its  repeated  efforts ;  and  certainly  it  is  but  fair  to  ascribe  the 
decidedly  augmented  power  of  the  organ  to  the  stimulus  of  the  ergot,  for  no 
other  means  were  resorted  to  in  order  to  procure  the  desired  effect.  Its 
action,  too,  is  prompt.  Within  ten  minutes  of  the  administration  of  a 
second  or  third  dose,  when  nature  has  been  nearly  exhausted,  the  parturi- 
tion has  been  safely  effected. 

Puerperal  Fits. — Nature  proportions  the  power  and  resources  of  the 
mother  to  the  wants  of  her  offspring.  In  her  wild  undomesticated  state 
she  is  able  to  suckle  her  progeny  to  the  full  time ;  but,  in  the  artificial 
state  in  which  we  have  placed  her,  we  shorten  the  interval  between  each 
period  of  parturition,  we  increase  the  number  of  her  young  ones  at  each 
birth,  we  diminish  her  natural  powers  of  affording  them  nutriment,  and 
we  give  her  a  degree  of  irritability  which  renders  her  whole  system  liable 
to  be  excited  and  deranged  by  causes  that  would  otherwise  be  harmless : 
therefore  it  happens  that,  when  the  petted  bitch  is  permitted  to  suckle  the 
whole  of  her  litter,  her  supply  of  nutriment  soon  becomes  exhausted,  and 
the  continued  drain  upon  her  produces  a  great  degree  of  irritability.  She 
gets  rapidly  thin ;  she  staggers,  is  half  unconscious,  neglects  her  puppies, 
and  suddenly  falls  into  a  fit  of  a  very  peculiar  character.  It  begins  with, 
and  is  sometimes  confined  to,  the  respiratory  apparatus :  she  lies  on  her 
side  arid  pants  violently,  and  the  sound  of  her  laboured  breathing  may  be 
heard  at  the  distance  of  twenty  yards.  Sometimes  spasms  steal  over  her 
limbs ;  at  other  times  the  diaphragm  and  respiratory  muscles  alone  are 
convulsed.  In  a  few  hours  she  is  certainly  lost ;  or,  if  there  are  moments 
of  remission,  they  are  speedily  succeeded  by  increased  heavings. 

The  practitioner  unaccustomed  to  this  fearful  state  of  excitation,  and 
forgetful  or  unaware  of  its  cause,  proceeds  to  bleed  her,  and  he  seals  her 
fate.  Although  one  system  is  thus  convulsively  labouring,  it  is  because 
others  are  suddenly  and  perfectly  exhausted ;  and  by  abstraction  of  the 
vital  current  he  reduces  this  last  hold  of  life  to  the  helpless  condition  of 
the  rest.  There  is  not  a  more  common  or  fatal  error  than  this. 

The  veterinary  practitioner  is  unable  to  apply  the  tepid  bath  to  his  larger 
patients,  in  order  to  quiet  the  erythism  of  certain  parts  of  the  system,  and 
produce  an  equable  diffusion  of  nervous  influence  and  action  ;  and  he  often 
forgets  it  when  he  has  it  in  his  power  to  save.the  smaller  ones.  Let  the 
bitch  in  a  fit  be  put  into  a  bath,  temperature  96°  of  Fahrenheit,  and  covered 
with  the  water,  her  head  excepted.  It  will  be  surprising  to  see  how  soon 
the  simple  application  of  this  equable  temperament  will  quiet  down  the 
erythism  of  the  excited  system.  In  ten  minutes,  or  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
she  may  be  taken  out  of  the  bath  evidently  relieved,  and  then,  a  hasty  and 
not  very  accurate  drying  having  taken  place,  she  is  wrapped  in  a  blanket 
and  placed  in  some  warm  situation,  a  good  dose  of  physic  having  been 
previously  administered.  She  soon  breaks  out  in  a  profuse  perspiration. 
Everything  becomes  gradually  quiet,  and  she  falls  into  a  deep  and  long 


230  PUERPERAL  FITS. 

sleep,  and  at  length  awakes  somewhat  weak,  but  to  a  certain  degree  re- 
stored. 

If,  then,  all  her  puppies  except  one  or  two  are  taken  from  her,  and  her 
food  is,  for  a  day  or  two,  somewhat  restricted,  and  after  that  given  again 
of  its  usual  quantity  and  kind,  she  will  live  and  do  well ;  but  a  bleeding 
at  the  time  of  her  fit,  or  suffering  all  her  puppies  to  return  to  her,  will 
inevitably  destroy  her. 

A  bitch  that  was  often  brought  to  my  house  was  suckling  a  litter  of 
puppies.  She  was  foolishly  taken  up  and  thrown  into  the  Serpentine  in 
the  month  of  April.  The  suppression  of  milk  was  immediate  and  com- 
plete. There  was  also  a  determination  to  the  head,  and  attacks  resembling 
epilepsy.  The  puppies  that  were  suffered  to  remain  with  the  mother, 
were  very  soon  as  epileptic  as  she  was,  and  were  destroyed.  A  seton  was 
inserted  on  each  side  of  her  neck.  Ipecacuanha  was  administered ;  and 
that  having  sufficiently  worked,  a  small  quantity  of  diluted  sulphuric  acid 
was  given.  A  fortnight  afterwards  she  was  perfectly  well. 

Inversion  of  the  Uterus  in  a  Bull  Bitch  after  Pupping.  Extirpation 
and  Cure.  By  M.  Cross,  M.  V.,  Milan.— In  July,  1829,  I  was  desired 
to  attend  a  small  bull  bitch  six  years  old,  and  who  had  had  puppies  four 
times.  The  uterus  was  completely  inverted,  and  rested  all  its  weight 
on  the  vaginal  orifice  of  the  urethra,  preventing  the  discharge  of  the 
urine,  and  thus  being  the  cause  of  great  pain  when  the  animal  endeavoured 
to  void  it,  or  the  faecal  matter.  The  uterus  was  become  of  almost  a  black 
colour,  swelled,  softened,  and  exhaling  an  insupportable  odour.  Judging 
from  this  that  the  preservation  of  the  uterus  was  impossible,  and  reckoning 
much  on  the  good  constitution  of  the  patient,  I  warned  the  proprietor  of 
the  danger  of  its  reduction,  even  supposing  that  it  was  practicable,  and 
proposed  to  him  the  complete  extirpation  of  the  uterus  as  the  only  means 
that  remained  of  saving  the  bitch. 

Armed  with  his  consent,  I  passed  a  ligature  round  the  neck  of  the 
uterus,  at  the  bottom  of  the  vagina,  and  drew  it  as  tight  as  I  possibly 
could.  On  the  following  day  I  again  tightened  the  ligature,  in  order  to 
complete  the  mortification  of  the  part,  and  the  separation  of  the  womb. 
On  the  Ihird  day  I  extirpated  the  womb  entirely,  close  to  the  haunch. 
There  was  very  slight  loss  of  blood,  but  there  ran  from  the  walls  of  the 
vagina  a  small  quantity  of  ichorous  fluid,  with  a  strong  fetid  smell.  The 
operation  was  scarcely  completed  ere  she  voided  a  considerable  quantity 
of  urine,  and  then  searched  about  for  something  to  eat  and  to  drink. 

The  portion  of  the  uterus  that  was  removed  weighed  fourteen  ounces. 
The  mucous  membrane  by  which  it  was  lined  was  in  a  highly  disorganized 
state.  From  time  to  time  injections  of  a  slight  infusion  of  aromatic  plants 
were  introduced  into  the  vagina,  and  the  animal  was  nourished  with  liquid 
food  of  easy  digestion. 

The  first  day  passed  without  the  animal  being  in  the  slightest  degree 
affected ;  but,  on  the  following  day,  in  despite  of  all  our  care,  an  ichorous 
fluid  was  discharged,  which  the  dog  would  lick  notwithstanding  all  our 
efforts  to  prevent  it.  The  general  health  of  the  animal  did  not  seem  to  be 
in  the  slightest  degree  affected.  We  continued  our  aromatic  infusion  and 
our  regimen. 

On  the  fourth  day  after  the  operation,  the  cords  that  had  served  as  a 
ligature  fell  off,  and  all  suppuration  from  the  part  gradually  ceased. 

October  20th. — Three  months  have  passed  since  the  operation,  and  she 
is  perfectly  well. 


DISTEMPER.  231 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


THE    DISTEMPER. 

BY  this  singular  name  is  distinguished  a  prevalent  disease  now  about  to 
come  under  our  consideration,  which  was  first  observed  on  the  continent. 
The  rapidity  with  which  it  spread,  the  strange  protean  appearances  which 
it  assumed,  and  its  too  frequent  fatal  termination,  surprised  and  puzzled 
the  veterinary  surgeons ;  and  they  called  it  "  la  maladie  des  chiens,"  the 
disease  or  distemper  in  dogs. 

It  is  comparatively  a  new  disease.  It  was  imported  from  France  about 
one  hundred  years  since,  although  some  French  authors  have  strangely 
affirmed  that  it  is  of  British  origin.  Having  once  gained  footing  among 
us,  it  has  established  itself  in  our  country,  to  the  vexation  and  loss  of  the 
sportsman,  and  the  annoyance  of  the  veterinary  surgeon.  However  keepers, 
or  even  men  of  education,  may  boast  of  their  specifics,  it  is  a  sadly  fatal 
disease,  and  destroys  fully  one-third  of  the  canine  race. 

Dogs  of  all  ages  are  subject  to  its  attack.  Many,  nine  and  ten  years 
old,  have  died  of  pure  distemper ;  and  I  have  seen  puppies  of  only  three 
weeks  fall  victims  to  it ;  but  it  oftenest  appears  between  the  sixth  and 
twelfth  month  of  the  animal's  life.  If  it  occurs  at  an  early  period,  it 
proves  fatal  in  the  great  majority  of  cases  ;  and,  if  the  dog  is  more  than 
four  years  old,  it  generally  goes  hard  with  him.  It  is  undeniably  highly 
contagious,  yet  it  is  frequently  generated.  In  this  it  bears  an  analogy  to 
mange,  and  to  farcy  and  glanders  in  the  horse. 

One  attack  of  the  disease,  and  even  a  severe  one,  is  no  absolute  security 
against  its  return ;  although  the  dog  that  has  once  laboured  under  dis- 
temper possesses  a  certain  degree  of  immunity ;  or,  if  he  is  attacked  a 
second  time,  the  malady  usually  assumes  a  milder  type.  I  have,  however, 
known  it  occur  three  times  in  the  same  animal,  and  at  last  destroy  him. 

Violent  catarrh  will  often  terminate  in  distemper  ;  and  low  and  insuffi- 
cient feeding  will  produce  it.  It  frequently  follows  mange,  and  especially 
if  mercury  has  been  used  in  the  cure  of  the  malady.  When  we  see  a 
puppy  with  mange,  and  that  peculiar  disease  in  which  the  skin  becomes 
corrugated,  and  more  especially  if  it  is  a  spaniel,  and  pot-bellied  or 
ricketty,  we  generally  say  that  we  can  cure  the  mange,  but  it  will  not  be 
long  before  the  animal  dies  of  distemper  ;  and  so  it  happens  in  three  cases 
out  of  four.  Whatever  debilitates  the  constitution  predisposes  it  for  the 
reception  or  the  generation  of  distemper.  It,  however,  frequently  occurs 
without  any  apparent  exciting  cause. 

That  it  is  highly  contagious  cannot  admit  of  doubt.  A  healthy  dog 
can  seldom,  for  many  days,  be  kept  with  another  that  labours  under  dis- 
temper without  becoming  affected ;  and  the  disease  is  communicated  by 
the  slightest  momentary  contact.  There  is,  however,  a  great  deal  of 
caprice  about  this.  I  have  more  than  once  kept  a  dog  in  the  foul-yard  of 
my  hospital  for  several  successive  weeks,  and  he  has  not  become  diseased. 


232  DISTEMPER. 

Inoculation  with  the  matter  that  flows  from  the  nose,  either  limpid  or 
purulent,  and  in  an  early  or  advanced  stage  of  the  distemper,  will,  with 
few  exceptions,  produce  the  disease ;  yet  I  have  failed  to  communicate  it 
even  by  this  method.  Inoculation  used  to  be  recommended  as  producing  a 
milder  and  less  fatal  disease.  So  far  as  my  experience  goes,  the  contrary 
has  been  the  result. 

Distemper  is  also  epidemic.  It  occurs  more  frequently  in  the  spring 
and  autumn  than  in  the  winter  and  summer.  If  one  or  two  dogs  in  a  cer- 
tain district  are  affected,  we  may  be  assured  that  it  will  soon  extensively 
prevail  there ;  and  where  the  disease  could  not  possibly  be  communicated 
by  contagion.  Sometimes  it  rages  all  over  the  country.  At  other  times 
it  is  endemic,  and  confined  to  some  particular  district. 

Not  only  is  the  disease  epidemic  or  endemic,  but  the  form  which  it 
assumes  is  so.  In  one  season,  almost  every  dog  with  distemper  has  violent 
fits ;  at  another,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  there  will  be  considerable  chest 
affection,  running  on  to  pneumonia ;  a  few  months  afterwards,  a  great 
proportion  of  the  distempered  dogs  will  be  worn  down  by  diarrhoea,  which 
no  medicine  will  arrest ;  and  presently  it  will  be  scarcely  distinguishable 
from  mild  catarrh. 

It  varies  much  with  different  breeds.  The  shepherd's  dog,  generally 
speaking,  cares  little  about  it ;  he  is  scarcely  ill  a  day.  The  cur  is  not 
often  seriously  affected.  The  terrier  has  it  more  severely,  especially  the 
white  terrier.  The  hound  comes  next  in  the  order  of  severity  ;  and  after 
him  the  setter.  With  the  small  spaniel  it  is  more  dangerous  ;  and  still 
more  so  with  the  pointer,  especially  if  he  has  the  disease  early.  Next  in 
the  order  of  fatality  comes  the  pug ;  and  it  is  most  fatal  of  all  with  the 
Newfoundland  dog.  Should  a  foreign  dog  be  affected,  he  almost  certainly 
dies.  The  greater  part  of  the  northern  dogs  brought  by  Captain  Parry 
did  not  survive  a  twelvemonth ;  and  the  delicate  Italian  greyhound  has 
little  chance,  when  imported  from  abroad. 

Not  only  does  it  thus  differ  in  different  species  of  dogs,  but  in  different 
breeds  of  the  same  species.  I  have  known  several  gentlemen  who  have 
laboured  in  vain  for  many  years,  to  rear  particular  and  valuable  breeds 
of  pointers  and  greyhounds.  The  distemper  would  uniformly  carry  off 
five  out  of  six.  Other  sportsmen  laugh  at  the  supposed  danger  of  dis- 
temper, and  declare  that  they  seldom  lose  a  dog.  This  hereditary  pre- 
disposition to  certain  kinds  of  disease  cannot  be  denied,  and  is  not 
sufficiently  attended  to.  When  a  peculiar  fatality  has  often  followed  a 
certain  breed,  the  owner  should  cross  it  from  another  kennel,  and  especially 
from  the  kennel  of  one  who  boasts  of  his  success  in  the  treatment  of  dis- 
temper. This  has  occasionally  succeeded  far  beyond  expectation. 

It  is  time  to  proceed  to  the  symptoms  of  this  disease ;  but  here  there  is 
very  considerable  difficulty,  for  it  is  a  truly  protean  malady,  and  it  is  im- 
possible to  fix  on  any  symptom  that  will  invariably  characterise  it. 

An  early  and  frequent  symptom  is  a  gradual  loss  of  appetite,  spirits, 
and  condition :  the  dog  is  less  obedient  to  his  master,  and  takes  less  notice 
of  him.  The  eyes  appear  weak  and  watery  ;  and  there  will  be  a  very 
slight  limpid  discharge  from  the  nose.  In  the  morning  there  will,  per- 
haps, be  a  little  indurated  mucus  at  the  inner  corner  of  the  eye.  This 
may  continue  two  or  three  weeks  without  serious  or  scarcely  recognisable 
illness.  Then  a  peculiar  husky  cough  is  heard,  altogether  different 
from  the  sonorous  cough  of  catarrh,  or  the  wheezing  of  asthma.  It  is  an 


DISTEMPER.  233 

apparent  attempt  to  get  something  from  the  fauces  or  throat.  By  degrees 
the  discharge  from  the  eyes  and  nose,  and  particularly  the  former,  will 
increase.  More  mucus  will  collect  in  the  corners  of  the  eye ;  and  the  eye 
will  sometimes  be  closed  in  the  morning.  The  conjunctiva,  and  particu- 
larly that  portion  which  covers  the  sclerotica,  will  be  considerably  injected, 
but  there  will  not  be  the  usual  intense  redness  of  inflammation.  The 
vessels  will  be  large  and  turgid  rather  than  numerous,  and  frequently  of 
a  darkish  hue. 

Occasionally,  however,  the  inflammation  of  the  conjunctiva  will  be 
exceedingly  intense,  the  membrane  vividly  red,  and  the  eye  impatient  of 
light.  An  opacity  spreads  over  the  cornea,  and  this  is  quickly  succeeded 
by  ulceration.  The  first  spot  of  ulceration  is  generally  found  precisely 
in  the  centre  of  the  cornea,  and  is  perfectly  circular :  this  will  distinguish 
it  from  a  scratch  or  other  injury.  The  ulcer  widens  and  deepens,  and 
sometimes  eats  through  the  cornea,  and  the  aqueous  humour  escapes. 
Fungous  granulations  spring  from  it,  protrude  through  the  lids,  and  the 
animal  evidently  suffers  extreme  torture. 

A  remarkable  peculiarity  attends  this  affection  of  the  eye.  However 
violent  may  be  the  inflammation,  and  by  whatever  disorganization  it  may 
be  accompanied,  if  we  can  cure  the  distemper  the  granulations  will  dis- 
appear, the  ulcer  will  heal,  the  opacity  will  clear  away,  and  the  eye  will 
not  eventually  suffer  in  the  slightest  degree.  One-fourth  part  of  the 
mischief  in  other  cases,  unconnected  with  distemper,  would  inevitably 
terminate  in  blindness  ;  but  permanent  blindness  is  rarely  the  consequence 
of  distemper. 

It  may  not  be  improper  here  shortly  to  revert  to  the  different  appearance 
of  the  eye  in  rabies.  In  the  early  stage  of  this  malady  there  is  an  unna- 
tural and  often  terrific  brightness  of  the  eye  ;  but  the  cornea  in  distemper 
is  from  the  first  rather  clouded.  In  rabies  there  is  frequent  strabismus, 
with  the  axis  of  the  eye  distorted  outwards.  The  apparent  squinting  of 
the  eye  in  distemper  is  caused  by  the  probably  unequal  protrusion  of  the 
membrana  nictitans  over  a  portion  of  the  eye  at  the  inner  canthus,  in 
order  to  protect  it  from  the  light.  In  rabies,  the  white  cloudiness 
which  I  have  described,  and  the  occasional  ulceration  with  very  little 
cloudiness,  and  the  ulceration,  are  confined  to  the  cornea ;  but  a  dense 
green  opacity  comes  on,  speedily  followed  by  ulceration  and  disorganization 
of  every  part  of  the  eye. 

The  dog  will,  at  this  stage  of  distemper,  be  evidently  feverish,  and  will 
shiver  and  creep  to  the  fire.  He  will  more  evidently  and  rapidly  lose 
flesh.  The  huskiness  will  be  more  frequent  and  troublesome,  and  the  dis- 
charge from  the  nose  will  have  greater  consistence.  It  will  be  often  and 
violently  sneezed  out,  and  will  gradually  become  more  or  less  purulent. 
It  will  stick  about  the  nostrils  and  plug  them  up,  and  thus  afford  a  consi- 
derable mechanical  obstruction  to  the  breathing. 

The  progress  of  the  disease  is  now  uncertain.  Sometimes  fits  come  on, 
speedily  following  intense  inflammation  of  the  eye  ;  or  the  inflammation 
of  the  nasal  cavity  appears  to  be  communicated,  by  proximity,  to  the 
membrane  of  the  brain.  One  fit  is  a  serious  thing.  If  it  is  followed  by 
a  second  within  a  day  or  two,  the  chances  of  cure  are  diminished  ;  and  if 
they  rapidly  succeed  each  other,  the  dog  is  almost  always  lost.  These  fits 
seldom  appear  without  warning  ;  and,  if  their  approach  is  carefully  watched, 
they  may  possibly  be  prevented. 


234  DISTEMPER. 

However  indisposed  to  eat  the  dog  may  have  previously  been,  the 
appetite  returns  when  the  fits  are  at  hand,  and  the  animal  becomes  abso- 
lutely voracious.  Nature  seems  to  be  providing  for  the  great  expen- 
diture of  power  which  epilepsy  will  soon  occasion.  The  mucus  almost 
entirely  disappears  from  the  eyes,  although  the  discharge  from  the  nose  may 
continue  unabated ;  and  for  an  hour  or  more  before  the  fit  there  will  be 
a  champing  of  the  lower  jaw,  frothing  at  the  mouth,  and  discharge  of  saliva. 
The  champing  of  the  lower  jaw  will  be  seen  at  least  twelve  hours  before 
the  first  fit,  and  will  a  little  while  precede  every  other.  There  will  also 
be  twitchings  of  some  part  of  the  frame,  and  usually  of  the  mouth,  cheek, 
or  eyelid.  It  is  of  some  consequence  to  attend  to  these,  as  enabling  us 
to  distinguish  between  fits  of  distemper  and  those  of  teething,  worms,  or 
unusual  excitement.  The  latter  come  on  suddenly.  The  dog  is  appa- 
rently well,  and  racing  about  full  of  spirits,  and  without  a  moment's 
warning  he  falls  into  violent  convulsions. 

"We  may  here,  likewise,  be  enabled  to  distinguish  between  rabies  and 
distemper.  When  a  person,  unacquainted  with  dogs,  sees  a  dog  struggling 
in  a  fit,  or  running  along  unconscious  of  every  surrounding  object,  or 
snapping  at  every  thing  in  his  way,  whether  it  be  a  human  being  or  a 
stone,  he  raises  the  cry  of  "  mad  dog,"  and  the  poor  brute  is  often  sacri- 
ficed. The  very  existence  of  a  fit  is  proof  positive  that  the  dog  is  not  mad. 
No  epilepsy  accompanies  rabies  in  any  stage  of  that  disease. 

The  inflammation  of  the  membrane  of  the  nose  and  fauces  is  sometimes 
propagated  along  that  of  the  windpipe,  and  the  dog  exhibits  unequivocal 
proofs  of  chest  affection,  or  decided  pneumonia. 

At  other  times  the  bowels  become  affected,  and  a  violent  purging  comes 
on.  The  faeces  vary  from  white  with  a  slight  tinge  of  gray,  to  a  dark 
slate  or  olive  colour.  By  degrees  mucus  begins  to  mingle  with  the 
faecal  discharge,  and  then  streaks  of  blood.  The  faecal  matter  rapidly 
lessens,  and  the  whole  seems  to  consist  of  mingled  mucus  and  blood ; 
and,  from  first  to  last,  the  stools  are  insufferably  offensive.  When  the 
mingled  blood  and  mucus  appear,  so  much  inflammation  exists  in  the 
intestinal  canal  that  the  case  is  almost  hopeless. 

The  discharge  from  the  nose  becomes  decidedly  purulent.  While  it 
is  white  and  without  smell,  and  the  dog  is  not  too  much  emaciated,  the 
termination  may  be  favourable ;  but  when  it  becomes  of  a  darker  colour, 
and  mingled  with  blood,  and  offensive,  the  ethmoid  or  turbinated  bones 
are  becoming  carious,  and  death  supervenes.  This  will  particularly  be 
the  case  if  the  mouth  and  lips  swell,  and  ulcers  begin  to  appear  on  them, 
and  the  gums  ulcerate,  and  a  sariious  and  highly  offensive  discharge  pro- 
ceeds from  the  mouth.  A  singular,  half-fetid  smell  arising  from  the  dog, 
is  the  almost  invariable  precursor  of  death. 

When  the  disease  first  visited  the  continent  it  was  regarded  as  a  hu- 
moral disease.  Duhamel,  who  was  one  of  the  earliest  to  study  the  cha- 
racter of  the  malady,  contended  that  the  biliary  sac  contained  the  cause 
of  the  complaint :  the  bile  assumed  a  concrete  form,  and  its  superabundance 
was  the  cause  of  disease.  Barrier,  one  of  the  earliest  writers  on  the  subject, 
described  it  as  a  violent  irregular  bilious  fever.  Others  regarded  it  as  a 
mucous  discharge,  or  a  depurative ;  and  others,  as  a  salutary  crisis, 
removing  from  the  constitution  that  which  oppressed  the  different  organs. 
Others  had  recourse  to  inoculation,  in  order  to  give  it  a  more  benign 
character ;  and  others,  and  among  them  Chabert,  considered  that  it 


DISTEMPER.  235 

possessed  a  character  of  peculiar  malignity,  arid  he  gave  it  a  name  expres- 
sive of  its  nature  and  situation — nasal  catarrh.  It  exhibited  the  ordinary 
symptoms  of  coryza ;  it  was  a  catarrhal  affection  in  its  early  stage ;  but 
it  afterwards  degenerated  into  a  species  of  palsy.  The  causes  were  un- 
known. By  some,  they  were  attributed  to  the  natural  voracity  of  the 
dog ;  by  others,  to  his  occasional  lasciviousness ;  by  others,  to  his  frequent 
feeding  on  carrion,  or  the  refuse  of  fat  and  soups. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  nasal  catarrh  is,  to  a  very  considerable  de- 
gree, contagious  on  the  continent.  It  often  spreads  over  a  wide  extent  of 
country,  and  includes  numerous  animals  of  various  descriptions.  It  is 
complicated  with  various  diseases ;  and  particularly,  at  an  early  stage, 
with  ophthalmia.  It  may  be  interesting  to  the  reader  to  trace  the  pro- 
gress of  the  disease  among  our  continental  neighbours.  It  commences 
with  a  certain  depression  of  spirits ;  a  diminution  of  appetite  ;  a  heaviness 
of  the  head  ;  a  heat  of  the  mouth ;  an  attempt  to  get  something  from  the 
throat ;  an  insatiable  thirst ;  an  elevated  temperature  of  the  body  ;  a  dry 
and  painful  suffocating  cough  ;  and  all  these  circumstances  continue  from 
twenty  to  thirty  days,  until  at  length  the  dog  droops  and  dies. 

The  duration  of  distemper  is  uncertain.  It  sometimes  runs  its  course 
in  five  or  six  days ;  or  it  may  linger  on  two  or  three  months.  In  some 
cases  the  emaciation  is  rapid  and  extreme:  danger  is  then  to  be  ap- 
prehended. When  the  muscles  of  the  loins  are  much  attenuated,  or 
almost  wasted,  there  is  little  hope ;  and,  although  other  symptoms  may 
remit,  and  the  dog  may  be  apparently  recovering,  yet,  if  he  continues  to 
lose  flesh,  we  may  be  perfectly  assured  that  he  will  not  live.  On  the 
other  hand,  let  the  discharge  from  the  nose  be  copious,  and  the  purging 
violent,  arid  every  other  symptom  threatening,  yet  if  the  animal  gains  a 
little  flesh,  we  may  confidently  predict  his  recovery. 

When  the  dog  is  much  reduced  in  strength  and  flesh,  a  spasmodic  affec- 
tion or  twitching  of  the  muscles  will  sometimes  be  observed.  It  is  usually 
confined  at  first  to  one  limb  ;  but  the  most  decisive  treatment  is  required, 
or  these  spasms  will  spread  until  the  animal  is  altogether  unable  to  stand  ; 
and  while  he  lies  every  limb  will  be  in  motion,  travelling,  as  it  were,  at 
the  rate  of  twenty  miles  an  hour,  until  the  animal  is  worn  out,  and  dies 
of  absolute  exhaustion.  When  these  spasms  become  universal  and  vio- 
lent, they  are  accompanied  by  constant  and  dreadful  moans  and  cries. 

In  the  pointer  and  the  hound,  and  particularly  when  there  is  little  dis- 
charge from  the  eyes  or  nose,  an  intense  yellowness  often  suddenly  appears 
all  over  the  dog.  He  falls  away  more  in  twenty-four  hours  than  it  would 
be  thought  possible ;  his  bowels  are  obstinately  constipated  ;  he  will  neither 
eat  nor  move ;  and  in  two  or  three  days  he  is  dead. 

In  the  pointer,  hound,  and  greyhound,  there  sometimes  appears  on  the 
whole  of  the  chest  and  belly  a  pustular  eruption,  which  peels  off  in  large 
scales.  The  result  is  usually  unfavourable.  A  more  general  eruption, 
however,  either  wearing  the  usual  form  of  mange,  or  accompanied  by 
minute  pustules,  may  be  regarded  as  a  favourable  symptom.  The  disease 
is  leaving  the  vital  parts,  and  expending  its  last  energy  on  the  integument. 

The  post-mortem  appearances  are  exceedingly  unsatisfactory :  they  do 
not  correspond  with  the  original  character  of  the  disease,  but  with  its 
strangely  varying  symptoms.  If  the  dog  has  died  in  fits,  we  have  inflam- 
mation of  the  brain  or  its  membranes,  and  particularly  at  the  base  of  the 
brain,  with  considerable  effusion  of  a  serous  or  bloody  fluid.  If  the  pre- 


236  DISTEMPER. 

vailing  symptoms  have  led  our  attention  to  the  lungs,  we  find  inflammation 
of  the  bronchial  passages,  or,  in  a  few  instances,  of  the  substance  of  the 
lungs,  or  the  submucous  tissue  of  the  cells.  We  rarely  have  inflammation 
of  the  pulmonary  pleura,  and  never  to  any  extent  of  the  intercostal 
pleura.  In  a  few  lingering  cases,  tubercles  and  vomicse  of  the  lungs  have 
been  found. 

If  the  bowels  have  been  chiefly  attacked,  we  have  intense  inflammation 
of  the  mucous  membrane,  and,  generally  speaking,  the  small  intestines 
are  almost  filled  with  worms.  If  the  dog  has  gradually  wasted  away, 
which  is  often  the  case  when  purging  to  any  considerable  extent  has  been 
encouraged  or  produced,  we  have  contraction  of  the  whole  canal,  including 
even  the  stomach,  and  sometimes  considerable  enlargement  of  the  mesen- 
teric  glands.a 

The  membrane  of  the  nose  will  always  exhibit  marks  of  inflammation, 
and  particularly  in  the  frontal  sinuses  and  ethmoidal  cells ;  and  I  have 
observed  the  portion  of  membrane  on  the  septum,  or  cartilaginous  division 
of  the  nostrils,  between  the  frontal  sinuses  and  ethmoidal  cells,  to  be 
studded  with  small  miliary  tubercles.  In  advanced  stages  of  the  disease, 
attended  with  much  defluxion  from  the  nose,  the  cells  of  the  ethmoidal 
bone  and  the  frontal  sinuses  are  filled  with  pus. 

Ulceration  is  sometimes  found  on  the  membrane  of  the  nose,  oftenest  on 
the  spot  to  which  I  have  referred — occasionally  confined  to  that ;  and  now 
and  then  spreading  over  the  whole  of  the  septum,  and  even  corroding  and 
eating  through  it ;  generally  equal  on  both  sides,  of  the  septum  ;  in  a  few 
instances  extending  into  the  fauces ;  seldom  found  in  the  larynx,  but  occa- 
sionally seen  in  the  bronchial  passages.  The  other  viscera  rarely  present 
any  remarkable  morbid  appearance. 

The  distemper  is  clearly  a  disease  of  the  mucous  membranes,  usually 
commencing  in  the  membrane  of  the  nose,  and  resembling  nasal  catarrh. 
In  the  early  stage  it  is  coryza,  or  nasal  catarrh  ;  but  the  affection  rapidly 
extends,  and  seems  to  attack  the  mucous  membranes  generally,  determined 
to  some  particular  one,  either  by  atmospheric  influence  or  accidental 
causes,  or  constitutional  predisposition.  The  fits  arise  from  general  dis- 
turbance of  the  system,  or  from  the  proximity  of  the  brain  to  the  early 
seat  of  inflammation. 

This  account  of  the  nature  and  treatment  of  distemper  will,  per- 
haps, be  unsatisfactory  to  some  readers.  One  thing,  however,  is  clear, 
that  for  a  disease  which  assumes  such  a  variety  of  forms,  there  can  be  no 
specific ;  yet  there  is  not  a  keeper  who  is  not  in  possession  of  some  sup- 

*  The  following  is  a  very  frequent  and  husk.  Astringents  continued. — 10th.  The 

unexaggerated  history  of  distemper,  when  purging  is  at  last  overcome,  but  the  huski- 

calomel  has  been  given  in  too  powerful  ness  has  rapidly  increased,  accompanied 

doses : —  by  laborious  and  hurried  respiration. 

August  30, 1828. — A  spaniel,  six  months  Bleed  to  the  extent  of  three  ounces. — 1 1th. 

old,  has  been  ailing  a  fortnight,  and  The  breathing  relieved,  but  he  obstinately 

three  doses  of  calomel  have  been  given  by  refuses  to  eat,  and  is  forced  several  times 

the  owner.  He  has  violent  purging,  with  in  the  day  with  arrow-root  or  strong  soup, 

tenesmus  and  blood.  Half-an-ounce  of  — 18^.  He  had  become  much  thinner  and 

castor-oil  administered. — 3\st.  Astringents  weaker,  and  died  in  the  evening.  Noap- 

morning,  noon,  and  night. — Sept.  6.  The  pearance  of  inflammation  on  the  thoracic 

astringents  have  little  effect,  or,  if  the  viscera,  nor  in  any  part  of  the  alimen- 

purging  is  restrained  one  day,  it  returns  tary  canal.  The  intestines  are  contracted 

with  increased  violence  on  the  following  through  their  whole  extent. — Veterina- 

day.  Getting  rapidly  thin.  Begins  to  rian,  ii.  290. 


DISTEMPER.  237 

posed  infallible  nostrum.  Nothing  can  be  more  absurd.  A  disease  attacks 
ing  so  many  organs,  and,  presenting  so  many  and  such  different  symptoms, 
must  require  a  mode  of  treatment  varying  with  the  organ  attacked  and  the 
symptom  prevailing.  The  faith  in  these  boasted  specifics  is  principally 
founded  on  two  circumstances — atmospheric  influence  and  peculiarity  of 
breed.  There  are  some  seasons  when  we  can  scarcely  save  a  dog ;  there 
are  others  when  we  must  almost  wilfully  destroy  him  in  order  to  lose  him. 
There  are  some  breeds  in  which,  generation  after  generation,  five  out  of 
six  die  of  distemper,  while  there  are  others  in  which  not  one  out  of  a  dozen 
dies.  When  the  season  is  favourable,  and  the  animal,  by  hereditary  in- 
fluence, is  not  disposed  to  assume  the  virulent  type  of  the  disease,  these 
two  important  agents  are  overlooked,  and  the  immunity  from  any  fatal 
result  is  attributed  to  medicine.  The  circumstances  most  conducive  to 
success  will  be  the  recollection  that  it  is  a  disease  of  the  mucous  surfaces, 
and  that  we  must  not  carry  the  depleting  and  lowering  system  too  far. 
Keeping  this  in  view,  we  must  accommodate  ourselves  to  the  symptoms  as 
they  arise. 

The  natural  medicine  of  the  dog  seems  to  be  an  emetic.  The  act  of 
vomiting  is  very  easily  excited  in  him,  and,  feeling  the  slightest  ailment, 
he  flies  to  the  dog-grass,  unloads  his  stomach,  and  is  at  once  well.  In 
distemper,  whatever  be  the  form  which  it  assumes,  an  emetic  is  the  first 
thing  to  be  given.  Common  salt  will  do  when  nothing  else  is  at  hand ; 
but  the  best  emetic,  and  particularly  in  distemper,  consists  of  equal  parts 
of  calomel  and  tartar  emetic.  From  half  a  grain  to  a  grain  and  a  half  of 
each  will  constitute  the  dose. 

This  will  act  first  as  an  emetic,  and  afterwards  as  a  gentle  purgative. 
Then,  if  the  cough  is  urgent,  and  there  is  heaving  at  the  flanks,  and  the 
nose  is  hot,  a  moderate  quantity  of  blood  may  be  taken — from  three  to 
twelve  ounces — and  this,  if  there  has  been  previous  constipation,  may  be 
followed  by  a  dose  of  sulphate  of  magnesia,  from  two  to  six  drachms. 

In  slight  cases  this  will  often  be  sufficient  to  effect  a  cure :  but,  if  the 
dog  still  droops,  and  particularly  if  there  is  much  huskiness,  the  antimonial 
or  James's  powder,  nitre  and  digitalis,  in  the  proportion  of  from  half  a 
grain  to  a  grain  of  digitalis,  from  two  to  five  grains  of  the  James's  powder, 
and  from  a  scruple  to  a  drachm  of  nitre,  should  be  administered  twice  or 
thrice  in  a  day.  If  on  the  third  or  fourth  day  the  huskiness  is  not  quite 
removed,  the  emetic  should  be  repeated. 

In  these  affections  of  the  mucous  membranes,  it  is  absolutely  necessary 
to  avoid  or  to  get  rid  of  every  source  of  irritation,  and  worms  will  generally 
be  found  a  very  considerable  one  in  young  dogs.  If  we  can  speedily  get 
rid  of  them,  distemper  will  often  rapidly  disappear ;  but,  if  they  are  suffered 
to  remain,  diarrhoea  or  fits  are  apt  to  supervene :  therefore  some  worm 
medicine  should  be  administered. 

I  have  said  that  vomiting  is  very  easily  excited  in  the  dog ;  and  that  for 
this  reason  we  are  precluded  from  the  use  of  a  great  many  medicines  in 
our  treatment  of  him.  Calomel,  aloes,  jalap,  scammony,  and  gamboge  will 
generally  produce  sickness.  We  are,  therefore,  driven  to  some  mechanical 
vermifuge ;  and  a  very  effectual  one,  and  that  will  rarely  fail  of  expelling 
even  the  tape-worm,  is  tin  filings  or  powdered  glass.  From  half  a  drachm 
to  a  drachm  of  either  may  be  advantageously  given  twice  in  the  day. 
There  may  generally  be  added  to  them  digitalis,  James's  powder,  and 
nitre,  made  into  balls  with  palm  oil  and  a  little  linseed  meal.  This  course 


238  DISTEMPER. 

should  be  pursued  in  usual  cases  until  two  or  three  emetics  have  been 
given,  and  a  ball  morning  and  night  on  the  intermediate  days.  Should 
the  huskiness  not  diminish  after  the  first  two  or  three  days,  if  the  dog  has 
not  rapidly  lost  flesh,  I  should  be  disposed  to  take  a  little  more  blood,  and 
to  put  a  seton  in  the  poll.  It  should  be  inserted  between  the  ears,  and 
reaching  from  ear  to  ear. 

When  there  is  fever  and  huskiness,  and  the  dog  is  not  much  emaciated, 
a  seton  is  an  excellent  remedy  ;  but,  if  it  is  used  indiscriminately,  and 
when  the  animal  is  already  losing  ground,  and  is  violently  purging,  we  shall 
only  hasten  his  doom,  or  rather  make  it  more  sure. 

It  is  now,  if  ever,  that  pneumonia  will  be  perceived.  The  symptoms 
of  inflammation  in  the  lungs  of  the  dog  can  scarcely  be  mistaken.  The 
quick  and  laborious  breathing,  the  disinclination  or  inability  to  lie  down, 
the  elevated  position  of  the  head,  and  the  projection  of  the  muzzle  will 
clearly  mark  it.  More  blood  must  be  subtracted,  a  seton  inserted,  the 
bowels  opened  with  Epsom  salts,  and  the  digitalis,  nitre,  and  James's  pow- 
der given  more  frequently  and  in  larger  doses  than  before. 

Little  aid  is  to  be  derived  from  observation  of  the  pulse  of  the  dog ;  it 
differs  materially  in  the  breed,  and  size,  and  age  of  the  animal.  Many 
years'  practice  have  failed  in  enabling  me  to  draw  any  certain  conclusion 
from  it.  The  best  place  to  feel  the  pulse  of  the  dog  is  at  the  side.  We 
may  possibly  learn  from  it  whether  digitalis  is  producing  an  intermittent 
pulse,  which  it  frequently  will  do,  and  which  we  wish  that  it  should  do :  it 
should  then  be  given  a  little  more  cautiously,  and  in  smaller  quantities. 

If  the  pneumonia  is  evidently  conquered,  or  we  have  proceeded  thus 
far  without  any  considerable  inflammatory  affection  of  the  chest,  we  must 
begin  to  change  our  plan  of  treatment.  If  the  huskiness  continues,  and 
the  discharge  from  the  nose  is  increased  and  thicker,  and  the  animal  is 
losing  flesh  and  becoming  weak,  we  must  give  only  half  the  quantity  of 
the  sedative  and  diuretic  medicine,  and  add  some  mild  tonic,  as  gentian, 
chamomile,  and  ginger,  with  occasional  emetics  ;  taking  care  to  keep  the 
bowels  in  a  laxative  but  not  purging  state.  The  dog  should  likewise  be 
urged  to  eat ;  and,  if  he  obstinately  refuses  all  food,  he  should  be  forced 
with  strong  beef  jelly,  for  a  very  great  degree  of  debility  will  now 
ensue. 

We  have  thus  far  considered  the  treatment  of  distemper  from  its  com- 
mencement ;  but  it  may  have  existed  several  days  before  we  were  con- 
sulted, and  the  dog  may  be  thin  and  husky,  and  refusing  to  eat.  In 
such  case  we  should  give  an  emetic,  and  then  a  dose  of  salts,  and  after 
that  proceed  to  the  tonic  and  fever  balls. 

Should  the  strength  of  the  animal  continue  to  decline,  and  the  discharge 
from  the  nose  become  purulent  and  offensive,  the  fever  medicine  must  be 
omitted,  and  the  tonic  balls,  with  carbonate  of  iron,  administered.  Some 
veterinary  surgeons  are  very  fond  of  gum  resins  and  balsams.  Mr.  Elaine, 
in  his  excellent  treatise  on  the  distemper  in  his  Canine  Pathology, 
recommends  myrrh  and  benjamin,  and  balsam  of  Peru  and  camphor.  I 
much  doubt  the  efficacy  of  these  drugs.  They  are  beginning  to  get  into 
disrepute  in  the  practice  of  human  medicine ;  and  I  believe  that  if  they 
were  all  banished  from  the  veterinary  Materia  Medica  we  should  experi- 
ence no  loss.  When  the  dog  begins  to  recover,  although  not  so  rapidly 
as  we  could  wish,  the  tonic  balls,  without  the  iron,  may  be  advantageously 
given,  with  now  and  then  an  emetic,  if  huskiness  should  threaten  to  return  ; 


DISTEMPER.  239 

but  mild  and  wholesome  food,  and  country  or  good  air,  will  be  the  best 
tonics. 

If  the  discharge  from  the  nose  become  very  offensive,  the  lips  swelled 
and  ulcerated,  and  the  breath  fetid,  half  an  ounce  of  yeast  may  be  admi- 
nistered every  noon,  and  the  tonics  morning  and  night ;  and  the  mouth 
should  be  frequently  washed  with  a  solution  of  chloride  of  lime. 

At  this  period  of  the  disease  the  sub-maxillary  glands  are  sometimes 
very  much  enlarged,  and  a  tumour  or  abscess  is  formed,  which,  if  not 
timely  opened,  breaks,  and  a  ragged  ill-conditioned  ulcer  is  formed,  very 
liable  to  spread,  and  very  difficult  to  heal.  It  is  prudent  to  puncture  this 
tumour  as  soon  as  it  begins  to  point,  for  it  will  never  disperse.  After 
the  opening,  a  poultice  should  be  applied  to  cleanse  the  ulcer ;  after 
which  it  should  be  daily  washed  with  the  compound  tincture  of  benjamin, 
and  dressed  with  calamine  ointment.  Some  balls  should  be  given,  and 
the  animal  liberally  fed. 

Should  fits  appear  in  an  early  stage,  give  a  strong  emetic  ;  then  bleed, 
and  open  the  bowels  with  five  or  six  grains  of  calomel,  and  a  quarter  of 
a  grain  of  opium  :  after  this  insert  a  seton,  and  then  commence  the  tonic 
balls. 

The  progress  of  fits  in  the  early  stages  of  the  disease  may  thus  be 
arrested.  The  occurrence  of  two  or  three  should  not  make  us  despair ; 
but,  if  they  occur  at  a  later  period,  and  when  the  dog  is  much  reduced, 
there  is  little  hope.  This  additional  expenditure  of  animal  power  will  pro- 
bably soon  carry  him  off.  All  that  is  to  be  done,  is  to  administer  a  strong 
emetic,  obviate  costiveness  by  castor  oil,  and  give  the  tonic  balls  with 
opium. 

Of  the  treatment  of  the  yellow  disease  little  can  be  said ;  we  shall  not 
succeed  in  one  case  in  twenty.  When  good  effect  has  been  produced,  it 
has  been  by  one  large  bleeding,  opening  the  bowels  well  with  Epsom 
salts,  and  then  giving  grain  doses  of  calomel  twice  a-day  in  a  tonic 
ball. 

While  it  is  prudent  to  obviate  costiveness,  we  should  recollect  that 
there  is  nothing  more  to  be  dreaded,  in  every  stage  of  distemper,  than 
diarrhoea.  The  purging  of  distemper  will  often  bid  defiance  to  the  most 
powerful  astringents.  This  shows  the  folly  of  giving  violent  cathartics  in 
distemper ;  and,  when  I  have  heard  of  the  ten,  and  twenty,  and  thirty  grains 
of  calomel  that  are  sometimes  given,  I  have  thought  it  fortunate  that  the 
stomach  of  the  dog  is  so  irritable.  The  greater  part  of  these  kill-or-cure 
doses  is  ejected,  otherwise  the  patient  would  soon  be  carried  off  by  super- 
purgation.  There  is  an  irritability  about  the  whole  of  the  mucous  mem- 
brane that  may  be  easily  excited,  but  cannot  be  so  readily  allayed  ;  and, 
therefore,  except  in  the  earliest  stage  of  distemper,  or  in  fits,  or  limiting 
ourselves  to  the  small  portion  of  calomel  which  enters  into  our  emetic,  I 
would  never  give  a  stronger  purgative  than  castor-oil  or  Epsom  salts.  It 
is  of  the  utmost  consequence  that  the  purging  of  distemper  should  be 
checked  as  soon  as  possible. 

In  some  diseases  a  sudden  purging,  and  even  one  of  considerable 
violence,  constitutes  what  is  called  the  crisis.  It  is  hailed  as  a  favourable 
symptom ;  and  from  that  moment  the  animal  begins  to  recover  ;  but 
this  is  never  the  case  in  distemper :  it  is  a  morbid  action  which  is  then 
going  on,  and  which  produces  a  dangerous  degree  of  debility. 

The  proper  treatment  of  purging  in  cases  of  distemper  is  first  to  give  a 


240  DISTEMPER. 

good  dose  of  Epsom  salts,  in  order  to  carry  away  any  thing  that  may  offend, 
and  then  to  ply  the  animal  with  mingled  absorbents  and  astringents.  A 
scruple  of  powdered  chalk,  ten  grains  of  catechu,  and  five  of  ginger,  with 
a  quarter  of  a  grain  of  opium,  made  into  a  ball  with  palm  oil,  may  be 
given  to  a  middle-sized  dog  twice  or  thrice  every  day.  To  this  may 
be  added  injections  of  gruel,  with  the  compound  chalk  mixture  and 
opium. 

When  the  twitchings  which  I  have  described  begin  to  appear,  a  seton 
is  necessary,  whatever  may  be  the  degree  to  which  the  animal  is  reduced. 
Some  stimulating  embrocation,  such  as  tincture  of  cantharides,  may  be 
rubbed  along  the  whole  course  of  the  spine ;  and  the  medicine  which  has 
oftenest,  but  not  always,  succeeded  is  castor-oil,  syrup  of  buckthorn,  and 
syrup  of  white  poppies,  given  morning  and  night,  and  a  tonic  ball  at  noon. 
If  the  dog  will  not  now  feed,  he  should  be  forced  with  strong  soup.  As 
soon,  however,  as  the  spasms  spread  over  him,  accompanied  by  a  moaning 
that  increases  to  a  cry,  humanity  demands  that  we  put  an  end  to  that  which 
we  cannot  cure.  Until  this  happens  I  would  not  despair ;  for  many  dogs 
have  been  saved  that  have  lain  several  days  perfectly  helpless. 

As  to  the  chorea  which  I  have  mentioned  as  an  occasional  sequel  of 
distemper,  if  the  dog  is  in  tolerable  condition,  and  especially  if  he  is 
gaining  flesh,  and  the  spring  or  summer  is  approaching,  there  is  a  chance 
of  his  doing  well.  A  seton  is  the  first  thing ;  the  bowels  should  be  pre- 
served from  constipation  ;  and  the  nitrate  of  silver,  in  doses  of  one-eighth 
of  a  grain,  made  into  a  pill  with  linseed  meal,  and  increased  to  a  quarter 
of  a  grain,  should  be  given  morning  and  night. 

We  should  never  make  too  sure  of  the  recovery  of  a  distempered  dog, 
nor  commit  ourselves  by  too  early  a  prognosis.  It  is  a  treacherous  disease  ; 
the  medicines  should  be  continued  until  every  symptom  has  fairly  disap- 
peared ;  and  for  a  month  at  least. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  add  the  following  account  of  the  distemper  in 
dogs  by  Dr.  Jenner.  Several  of  our  modern  writers  have  copied  very 
closely  from  him. 

"  That  disease  among  dogs  which  has  familiarly  been  called  the  '  dis- 
temper,' has  not  hitherto,  I  believe,  been  much  noticed  by  medical  men. 
My  situation  in  the  country  favouring  my  wishes  to  make  some  observa- 
tions on  this  singular  malady,  I  availed  myself  of  it,  during  several  suc- 
cessive years,  among  a  large  number  of  foxhounds  belonging  to  the  Earl 
of  Berkeley ;  and,  from  observing  how  frequently  it  has  been  confounded 
with  hydrophobia,  I  am  induced  to  lay  the  result  of  my  inquiries  before 
the  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society.  It  may  be  difficult,  perhaps, 
precisely  to  ascertain  the  period  of  its  first  appearance  in  Britain.  In 
this  and  the  neighbouring  counties,  I  have  not  been  able  to  trace  it 
back  beyond  the  middle  of  the  last  century  ;  but  it  has  since  spread  uni- 
versally. I  knew  a  gentleman  who,  about  forty-five  years  ago,  destroyed 
the  greater  part  of  his  hounds,  from  supposing  them  mad,  when  the 
distemper  first  broke  out  among  them ;  so  little  was  it  then  known  by 
those  most  conversant  with  dogs.  On  the  continent  I  find  it  has  been 
known  for  a  much  longer  period  ;  it  is  as  contagious  among  dogs  as  the 
small  pox,  measles,  or  scarlet  fever  among  the  human  species ;  and  the 
contagious  miasmata,  like  those  arising  from  the  diseases  just  mentioned, 
retain  their  infectious  properties  a  long  time  after  separation  from  the 
distempered  animal.  Young  hounds,  for  example,  brought  in  a  state  of 


DISTEMPER.  241 

health  into  a  kennel,  where  others  have  gone  through  the  distemper, 
seldom  escape  it.  I  have  endeavoured  to  destroy  the  contagion  by  order- 
ing every  part  of  a  kennel  to  be  carefully  washed  with  water,  then  white- 
washed, and  finally  to  be  repeatedly  fumigated  with  the  vapour  of  marine 
acid,  but  without  any  good  result. 

"  The  dogs  generally  sicken  early  in  the  second  week  after  exposure  to 
the  contagion  ;  it  is  more  commonly  a  violent  disease  than  otherwise,  and 
cuts  off  at  least  one  in  three  that  are  attacked  by  it.  It  commences  with 
inflammation  of  the  substance  of  the  lungs,  and  generally  of  the  mucous 
membrane  of  the  bronchi.  The  inflammation  at  the  same  time  seizes  on 
the  membranes  of  the  nostrils,  and  those  lining  the  bones  of  the  nose, 
particularly  the  nasal  portion  of  the  ethmoid  bone.  These  membranes 
are  often  inflamed  to  such  a  degree  as  to  occasion  extravasation  of  blood, 
which  I  have  observed  coagulated  on  their  surface.  The  breathing  is 
short  and  quick,  and  the  breath  is  often  fetid ;  the  teeth  are  covered 
with  a  dark  mucus.  There  is  frequently  a  vomiting  of  a  glairy  fluid. 
The  dog  commonly  refuses  food,  but  his  thirst  seems  insatiable,  and 
nothing  cheers  him  like  the  sight  of  water.  The  bowels,  although  gene- 
rally constipated  as  the  disease  advances,  are  frequently  affected  with 
diarrhoea  at  its  commencement.  The  eyes  are  inflamed,  and  the  sight  is 
often  obscured  by  mucus  secreted  from  the  eyelids,  or  by  opacity  of  the 
cornea.  The  brain  is  often  affected  as  early  as  the  second  day  after  the 
attack  ;  the  animal  becomes  stupid,  and  his  general  habits  are  changed. 
In  this  state,  if  not  prevented  by  loss  of  strength,  he  sometimes  wanders 
from  his  home.  He  is  frequently  endeavouring  to  expel  by  forcible  expi- 
rations the  mucus  from  the  trachea  and  fauces,  with  a  peculiar  rattling 
noise.  His  jaws  are  generally  smeared  with  it,  and  it  sometimes  flows  out 
in  a  frothy  state,  from  his  frequent  champing. 

"  During  the  progress  of  the  disease,  especially  in  its  advanced  stages,  he 
is  disposed  to  bite  and  gnaw  any  thing  within  his  reach  ;  he  has  sometimes 
epileptic  fits,  and  a  quick  succession  of  general  though  slight  convulsive 
spasms  of  the  muscles.  If  the  dog  survive,  this  affection  of  the  muscles 
continues  through  life.  He  is  often  attacked  with  fits  of  a  different  de- 
scription ;  he  first  staggers,  then  tumbles,  rolls,  cries  as  if  whipped,  and 
tears  up  the  ground  with  his  teeth  and  fore  feet :  he  then  lies  down  sense- 
less and  exhausted.  On  recovering,  he  gets  up,  moves  his  tail,  looks 
placid,  comes  to  a  whistle,  and  appears  in  every  respect  much  better  than 
before  the  attack.  The  eyes,  during  this  paroxysm,  look  bright,  and, 
unless  previously  rendered  dim  by  mucus,  or  opacity  of  the  cornea,  seem 
as  if  they  were  starting  from  their  sockets.  He  becomes  emaciated,  and 
totters  from  feebleness  in  attempting  to  walk,  or  from  a  partial  paralysis 
of  the  hind  legs.  In  this  state  he  sometimes  lingers  on  till  the  third  or 
fourth  week,  and  then  either  begins  to  show  signs  of  returning  health 
(which  seldom  happens  when  the  symptoms  have  continued  with  this  de- 
gree of  violence),  or  expires.  During  convalescence,  he  has  sometimes, 
though  rarely,  profuse  haemorrhage  from  the  nose. 

"  When  the  inflammation  of  the  lungs  is  very  severe,  he  frequently  dies 
on  the  third  day.  I  knew  one  instance  of  a  dog  dying  within  twenty- 
four  hours  after  the  seizure ;  and  in  that  short  space  of  time  the  greater 
portion  of  the  lungs  was,  from  exudation,  converted  into  a  substance 
nearly  as  solid  as  the  liver  of  a  sound  animal.  In  this  case  the  liver  itself 
was  considerably  inflamed,  and  the  eyes  and  flesh  universally  were 


242  DISTEMPER. 

tinged  yellow,  though  I  did  not  observe  any  thing  obstructing  the  biliary 
ducts.  In  other  instances  I  have  also  observed  the  eyes  looking  yellow. 

"  The  above  is  a  description  of  the  disease  in  its  several  forms ;  but 
in  this,  as  in  the  diseases  of  the  human  body,  there  is  every  gradation  in 
its  violence. 

"  There  is  also  another  affinity  to  some  human  diseases,  viz.,  that  the 
animal  which  has  once  gone  through  it  very  rarely  meets  with  a  second 
attack.  Fortunately  this  distemper  is  not  communicable  to  man.  Neither 
the  effluvia  from  the  diseased  dog  nor  the  bite  have  proved  in  any 
instance  infectious  ;  but,  as  it  has  often  been  confounded  with  canine 
madness,  as  I  have  before  observed,  it  is  to  be  wished  that  it  were  more 
generally  understood  ;  for  those  who  are  bitten  by  a  dog  in  this  state  are 
sometimes  thrown  into  such  perturbation  that  hydrophobic  symptoms 
have  actually  arisen  from  the  workings  of  the  imagination.  Mr.  John 
Hunter  used  to  speak  of  a  case  somewhat  of  this  description  in  his 
lectures. 

"  A  gentleman  who  received  a  severe  bite  from  a  dog,  soon  after 
fancied  the  animal  was  mad.  He  felt  a  horror  at  the  sight  of  liquids,  and 
was  actually  convulsed  on  attempting  to  swallow  them.  So  uncontrol- 
lable were  his  prepossessions,  that  Mr.  Hunter  conceived  he  would  have 
died  had  not  the  dog  which  inflicted  the  wound  been  found  and  brought 
into  his  room  in  perfect  health.  This  soon  restored  his  mind  to  a  state  of 
tranquillity.  The  sight  of  water  no  longer  afflicted  him,  and  he  quickly 
recovered." a 

Palsy,  more  or  less  complete,  is  sometimes  the  termination  of  the  dis- 
temper in  dogs. 

It  is  usually  accompanied  by  chorea,  and  it  is  then,  in  the  majority  of 
cases,  hopeless.  Setons  should  be  inserted  in  the  poll,  being  then,  as  nearly 
as  possible,  at  the  commencement  of  the  spinal  cord.  They  should  be  well 
stimulated  and  worn  a  considerable  time.  If  they  fail,  a  plaster  composed 
of  common  pitch,  with  a  very  small  quantity  of  yellow  wax  and  some 
powdered  cantharides,  spread  on  sheep's-skin,  should  be  placed  over  the 
whole  of  the  lumbar  and  sacral  regions,  extending  half-way  down  the  thigh 
on  either  side.  The  bowels  should  be  kept  open  by  mild  aperients,  in  order 
that  every  source  of  irritation  may  be  removed  from  the  intestinal  canal. 
Some  mild  and  general  tonic  will  likewise  be  useful,  such  as  gentian  and 
ginger. 

a  Medico-Chirurgical  Transactions,  21st  March,  1809. 


SMALL-POX.  243 


CHAPTER  XV. 

SMALL-POX  ;     MANGE  ;    WARTS  ;     CANCER  ;     FUNGUS  HJEMATODES  ; 

SORE   FEET. 

SMALL-POX. 

IN  1809,  there  was  observed,  at  the  Royal  Veterinary  School  at  Lyons, 
an  eruptive  malady  among  the  dogs,  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of 
small-pox.  It  appeared  to  be  propagated  from  dog  to  dog  by  contagion. 
It  was  not  difficult  of  cure ;  and  it  quickly  disappeared  when  no  other 
remedies  were  employed  than  mild  aperients  arid  diaphoretics.  A  sheep 
was  inoculated  from  one  of  these  dogs.  There  was  a  slight  eruption  of 
pustules  formed  on  the  place  of  inoculation,  but  nowhere  else ;  nor  was 
there  the  least  fever. 

At  another  time,  also,  at  the  school  at  Lyons,  a  sheep  died  of  the 
regular  sheep-pox.  A  part  of  the  skin  was  fastened,  during  four-and- 
twenty  hours,  on  a  healthy  sheep,  and  the  other  part  of  it  on  a  dog,  both 
of  them  being  in  apparent  good  health.  No  effect  was  produced  on  the 
dog,  but  the  sheep  died  of  confluent  sheep-pox. 

The  essential  symptoms  of  small-pox  in  dogs  succeed  each  other  in  the 
following  order :  the  skin  of  the  belly,  the  groin,  and  the  inside  of  the 
fore  arm  becomes  of  a  redder  colour  than  in  its  natural  state,  and  sprinkled 
with  small  red  spots  irregularly  rounded.  They  are  sometimes  isolated, 
sometimes  clustered  together.  The  near  approach  of  this  eruption  is 
announced  by  an  increase  of  fever. 

On  the  second  day,  the  spots  are  larger,  and  the  integument  is  slightly 
tumefied  at  the  centre  of  each. 

On  the  third  day,  the  spots  are  generally  enlarged,  and  the  skin  is  still 
more  prominent  at  the  centre. 

On  the  fourth  day,  the  summit  of  the  tumour  is  yet  more  prominent. 
Towards  the  end  of  that  day,  the  redness  of  the  centre  begins  to  assume  a 
somewhat  gray  colour.  On  the  following  days,  the  pustules  take  on  their 
peculiar  characteristic  appearance,  and  cannot  be  confounded  with  any 
other  eruption.  On  the  summit  is  a  white  circular  point,  corresponding 
with  a  certain  quantity  of  nearly  transparent  fluid  which  it  contains,  and 
covered  by  a  thin  and  transparent  pellicle.  This  fluid  becomes  less  and 
less  transparent,  until  it  acquires  the  colour  and  consistence  of  pus.  The 
pustule,  during  its  serous  state,  is  of  a  rounded  form.  It  is  flattened 
when  the  fluid  acquires  a  purulent  character,  and  even  slightly  depressed 
towards  the  close  of  the  period  of  suppuration,  and  when  that  of  desicca- 
tion is  about  to  commence,  which  ordinarily  happens  towards  the  ninth 
or  tenth  day  of  the  eruption.  The  desiccation  and  the  desquamation 
occupy  an  exceedingly  variable  length  of  time;  and  so,  indeed,  do  all  the 
different  periods  of  the  disease.  What  is  the  least  inconstant,  is  the  dura- 
tion of  the  serous  eruption,  which  is  about  four  days,  if  it  has  been  dis- 

R  2 


244  SMALL-POX. 

tinctly  produced  and  guarded  from  all  friction.  If  the  general  character 
of  the  pustules  is  considered,  it  will  be  observed,  that,  while  some  of  them 
are  in  a  state  of  serous  secretion,  others  will  only  have  begun  to  appear. 

The  eruption  terminates  when  desiccation  commences  in  the  first  pus- 
tules ;  and,  if  some  red  spots  show  themselves  at  that  period  of  the  malady, 
they  disappear  without  being  followed  by  the  development  of  pustules, 
They  are  a  species  of  abortive  pustules.  After  the  desiccation,  the  skin 
remains  covered  by  brown  spots,  which,  by  degrees,  die  away.  There 
remains  no  trace  of  the  disease,  except  a  few  superficial  cicatrices  on 
which  the  hair  does  not  grow. 

The  causes  which  produce  the  greatest  variation  in  the  periods  of  the 
eruption  are,  the  age  of  the  dog,  and  the  temperature  of  the  situation 
and  of  the  season.  The  eruption  runs  through  its  different  stages  with 
much  more  rapidity  in  dogs  from  one  to  five  months  old  than  in  those 
of  greater  age.  I  have  never  seen  it  in  dogs  more  than  eighteen  months 
old.  An  elevated  temperature  singularly  favours  the  eruption,  and  also 
renders  it  confluent  and  of  a  serous  character.  A  cold  atmosphere  is  un- 
favourable to  the  eruption,  or  even  prevents  it  altogether.  Death  is 
almost  constantly  the  result  of  the  exposure  of  dogs  having  small-pox  to 
any  considerable  degree  of  cold.  A  moderate  temperature  is  most  favour- 
able to  the  recovery  of  the  animal.  A  frequent  renewal  or  change  of  air, 
the  temperature  remaining  nearly  the  same,  is  highly  favourable  to  the 
patient ;  consequently  close  boxes  or  kennels  should  be  altogether  avoided. 

I  have  often  observed,  that  the  perspiration  or  breath  of  dogs  labouring 
under  variola  emits  a  very  unpleasant  odour.  This  smell  is  particularly 
observed  at  the  commencement  of  the  desiccation  of  the  pustules,  and  when 
the  animals  are  lying  upon  dry  straw ;  for  the  friction  of  the  bed  against 
the  pustules  destroys  their  pellicles,  and  permits  the  purulent  matter  to 
escape  ;  and  the  influence  of  this  purulent  matter  is  most  pernicious.  The 
fever  is  increased,  and  also  the  unpleasant  smell  from  the  rnouth,  and  that 
of  the  faeces.  In  this  state  there  is  a  disposition  which  is  rapidly  deve- 
loped in  the  lungs  to  assume  the  character  of  pneumonia.  This  last 
complication  is  a  most  serious  one,  and  almost  always  terminates  fatally. 
It  has  a  peculiar  character.  It  shows  itself  suddenly,  and  with  all  its 
alarming  symptoms.  It  is  almost  immediately  accompanied  by  a  purulent 
secretion  from  the  bronchi,  and  the  second  day  does  not  pass  without  the 
characters  of  pneumonia  being  completely  developed.  The  respiration  is 
accompanied  by  a  mucous  rale  which  often  becomes  sibilant.  The  nasal 
cavities  are  filled  with  a  purulent  fluid.  The  dog  that  coughs  violently 
at  the  commencement  of  the  disease  employs  himself,  probably,  on  the 
following  day  in  ejecting,  by  a  forcible  expulsion  from  the  nostrils,  the 
purulent  secretion  which  is  soon  and  plentifully  developed.  When  he  is 
lying  quiet,  and  even  when  he  seems  to  be  asleep,  there  is  a  loud,  ster- 
torous, guttural  breathing. 

MANGE. 

The  existence  of  certain  insects  found  burrowing  under  the  skin  of  the 
human  being,  and  of  various  tribes  of  animals,  has  been  acknowledged 
from  the  12th  century.  In  the  17th  century  correct  engravings  of  these 
insects  were  produced.  On  the  other  hand  many  doubted  their  existence, 
because  it  had  not  been  their  lot  to  see  them.  In  1812,  Gale's,  a  pupil  in 


MANGE.  245 

the  hospital  of  St.  Louis,  pretended  to  have  found  some  of  them.  They 
were  put  into  the  hands  of  M.  Raspail,  of  Paris,  who  proved  that  they 
were  nothing  more  than  the  common  cheese  mites ;  and  substituted  by 
Gales  for  those  seen  by  Bonomo. 

Professor  Hertwig,  of  Berlin,  has  given  a  graphic  sketch  of  these  in- 
sects (Veterinarian,  vol.  xi.  pp.  373,  489). 

Mr.  Holthouse  states  that,  "placed  on  the  skin  of  a  healthy  individual, 
they  excite  a  disease  in  the  part  to  which  they  were  confined,  having  all 
the  characters  of  scabies ;  that  insects  taken  from  mangy  sheep,  horses, 
and  dogs,  and  transplanted  to  healthy  individuals  of  the  same  species,  pro- 
duce in  them  a  disease  analogous  to  that  in  the  animals  from  which  they 
were  taken ;  and  that  there  are  too  many  well-attested  cases  on  record  to 
permit  us  to  doubt  of  scabies  having  been  communicated  from  animals  to 
man. 

Mange  may  in  some  degree  be  considered  as  an  hereditary  disease.  A 
mangy  dog  is  liable  to  produce  mangy  puppies,  and  the  progeny  of  a 
mangy  bitch  will  certainly  become  affected  sooner  or  later.  In  many 
cases  a  propensity  to  the  disease  will  be  speedily  produced.  If  the  puppies 
are  numerous,  and  confined  in  close  situations,  the  effluvia  of  their  tran- 
spiration and  faecal  discharges  will  often  be  productive  of  mange  very  diffi- 
cult to  be  removed.  Close  confinement,  salted  food,  and  little  exercise,  are 
frequent  causes  of  mange. 

The  Scabby  Mange  is  a  frequent  form  which  this  disease  assumes.  It 
assumes  a  pustular  and  scabby  form  in  the  red  mange,  particularly  in 
white-haired  dogs,  when  there  is  much  and  painful  inflammation.  A  pecu- 
liar eruption,  termed  surfeit,  which  resembles  mange,  is  sometimes  the 
consequence  of  exposure  to  cold  after  a  hot  sultry  day.  Large  blotches 
appear,  from  which  the  hair  falls  and  leaves  the  skin  bare  and  rough.  Acute 
mange  sometimes  takes  on  the  character  of  erysipelas  ;  at  other  times  there 
is  considerable  inflammation.  The  animal  exhibits  heat  and  restlessness,  and 
ulcerations  of  different  kinds  appear  in  various  parts,  superficial  but  ex- 
tensive. Bleeding,  aperient  and  cooling  medicines  are  indicated,  and  also 
applications  of  the  subacetate  of  lead,  or  spermaceti  ointment.  A  weak 
infusion  of  tobacco  may  be  resorted  to  when  other  things  fail,  but  it  must 
be  used  with  much  caution.  The  same  may  be  said  of  all  mercurial  pre- 
parations. The  tanner's  pit  has  little  efficacy,  except  in  slight  cases. 
Slight  bleedings  may  be  serviceable,  and  especially  in  full  habits ;  setons 
may  be  resorted  to  in  obstinate  cases.  A  change  in  the  mode  of  feeding 
will  often  be  useful.  Mild  purgatives,  and  especially  Epsom  salts,  are 
often  beneficial,  and  also  mercurial  alteratives,  as  ^Ethiop's  mineral 
with  cream  of  tartar  and  nitre.  The  external  applications  require  con- 
siderable caution.  If  mercury  is  used,  care  must  be  taken  that  the  dog  does 
not  lick  it.  The  diarrhoea  produced  by  mercury  often  has  a  fatal  effect. 

Unguents  are  useful,  but  considerable  care  must  be  taken  in  their  appli- 
cation. They  must  be  applied  to  the  actual  skin,  not  over  the  hair.  In 
old  and  bad  cases  much  time  and  patience  will  be  requisite.  Mr.  Blaine 
had  a  favourite  setter  who  had  virulent  mange  five  years.  He  was  ordered 
to  be  dressed  every  day,  or  every  second  day,  before  the  disease  was  com- 
pletely conquered. 

Cutaneous  affections  have  lately  been  prevalent  to  an  extent  altogether 
unprecedented  on  this  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  channel.  In  the  latter 
part  of  1843  the  disease  assumed  a  character  which  had  not  been  known 


246  MANGE — WARTS. 

among  us  for  many  years.  The  common  mange,  which  we  used  to  think 
we  could  easily  grapple  with,  was  now  little  seen :  even  the  usual  red 
mange  with  the  fox-coloured  stain  was  not  of  more  frequent  occurrence 
than  usual,  but  an  intolerable  itchiness  with  comparatively  little  redness 
of  skin,  and  rarely  sufficient  to  account  for  the  torture  which  the  animal 
seemed  to  endure,  and  often  with  not  the  slightest  discoloration  of  the 
integument,  came  before  us  almost  every  day,  and  under  its  influence  the 
dog  became  ill  tempered,  dispirited,  and  emaciated,  until  he  sunk  under  its 
influence.  All  unguents  were  thrown  away  here.  Lotions  of  corrosive 
sublimate,  decoction  of  bark,  infusion  of  digitalis  or  tobacco,  effected  some 
little  good,  but  the  persevering  use  of  the  iodide  of  potassium,  purgatives, 
and  the  abstraction  of  blood  very  generally  succeeded. 

The  sudden  appearance  of  redness  of  the  skin,  and  exudation  from  it, 
and  actual  sores  attending  the  falling  off  of  the  hair,  and  itching,  that 
seemed  to  be  intolerable,  have  also  been  prevalent  to  an  unprecedented 
extent.  This  mange,  however,  is  to  a  certain  degree  manageable.  A  dose 
or  two  of  physic  should  be  given,  with  an  application  of  a  calamine  powder, 
and  the  administration  of  the  iodide  of  potassium. 

Mr.  Blaine  gives  a  most  valuable  account  of  mange  in  the  dog,  part  of 
which  I  shall  quote  somewhat  at  length.  Mange  exerts  a  morbid  consti- 
tutional action  on  the  skin  ;  it  is  infectious  from  various  miasmata,  and 
it  is  contagious  from  personal  communication.  In  some  animals  it  may  be 
produced  by  momentary  contact :  it  descends  to  other  animals  of  various 
descriptions ;  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  is  occasionally  hereditary :  it  is 
generated  by  effluvia  of  many  various  kinds ;  almost  every  kind  of  rancid 
or  stimulating  food  is  the  parent  of  it.  High  living  with  little  exercise 
is  a  frequent  cause  of  it,  and  the  near  approach  of  starvation  is  not  unfa- 
vourable to  it.  The  scabby  mange  is  the  common  form  under  which  it 
generally  appears.  In  red  mange  the  whole  integument  is  in  a  state  of 
acute  inflammation  ;  surfeit,  or  blotches,  a  kind  of  cuticular  eruption 
breaks  out  on  particular  parts  of  the  body  without  the  slightest  notice, 
and,  worse  than  all,  a  direct  febrile  attack,  with  swelling  and  ulceration, 
occurs  under  which  the  dog  evidently  suffers  peculiar  heat  and  pain.  Last 
of  all  comes  local  mange.  Almost  every  eruptive  disease,  whether  arising 
from  the  eye,  the  ear,  the  scrotum,  or  the  feet,  is  injurious  to  the 
quality  as  well  as  the  health  of  every  sporting  dog :  the  scent  invariably 
becomes  diseased,  and  the  general  powers  are  impaired. 

There  are  several  accounts  of  persons  who,  having  handled  mangy  dogs, 
have  been  affected  with  an  eruption  very  similar  to  the  mange.  A  gentle- 
man and  his  wife  who  had  been  in  the  habit  of  fondling  a  mangy  pug  dog, 
were  almost  covered  with  an  eruption  resembling  mange.  Several  of  my 
servants  in  the  dog-hospital  have  experienced  a  similar  attack ;  and  the 
disease  was  once  communicated  to  a  horse  by  a  cat  that  was  accustomed 
to  lie  on  his  back  as  he  stood  in  the  stall. 

WARTS. 

These  are  often  unpleasant  things  to  have  to  do  with.  A  Newfoundland 
dog  had  the  whole  of  the  inside  of  his  mouth  lined  with  warts.  I  applied 
the  following  caustic  : — Hyd.  sub-corrosivi  sj.,  acidi  mur.  3,  alcoholis 
jiiij.,  aquee  31  j.  The  warts  were  touched  twice  every  day,  and  in  less 
than  a  fortnight  they  had  all  disappeared. 

Another  dog  had  its  mouth  filled  with  warts,  and  the  above  solution  was 


WARTS — CANCER.  247 

applied.  In  four  days  considerable  salivation  came  on,  and  lasted  a  week, 
but  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  the  warts  had  vanished.  The  owner  of 
the  dog-  had  applied  the  solution  with  the  tip  of  her  finger ;  she  experienced 
some  salivation,  which  she  attributed  to  this  cause. 

The  skin  of  the  dog,  from  the  feebleness  of  its  perspiratory  functions,  is 
little  sensible  to  the  influence  of  diaphoretics :  therefore  we  trust  so  much 
to  external  applications  for  the  cure  of  diseases  of  the  skin  of  that  animal, 

CANCER. 

This  is  a  disease  too  frequent  among  females  of  the  dog  tribe,  and  occa- 
sionally seen  in  the  male.  Its  symptoms,  local  and  general,  are  various. 
They  are  usually  very  obscure  in  their  commencement ;  they  increase  with- 
out any  limit ;  they  are  exasperated  by  irritants  of  any  kind  ;  and  in  the 
majority  of  cases  their  reproduction  is  almost  constant,  and  perfectly 
incurable. 

With  regard  to  the  female,  it  is  mostly  connected  with  the  secretion  of 
milk.  Two  or  three  years  may  pass,  and  at  almost  every  return  of  the 
period  of  oestrum,  there  will  be  some  degree  of  enlargement  or  inflamma- 
tion of  the  teats.  Some  degree  of  fever  also  appears  ;  but,  after  a  few 
weeks  have  passed  away,  and  one  or  two  physic  balls  have  been  administered, 
everything  goes  on  well.  In  process  of  time,  however,  the  period  of 
O3strum  is  attended  by  a  greater  degree  of  fever  and  enlargement 
of  the  teats,  and  at  length  some  diminutive  hardened  nuclei,  not  ex- 
ceeding in  size  the  tip  of  a  finger,  are  felt  within  one  of  the  teats.  By 
degrees  they  increase  in  size ;  they  become  hard,  hot,  and  tender.  A 
considerable  degree  of  redness  begins  to  appear.  Some  small  enlarge- 
ments are  visible.  The  animal  evidently  exhibits  considerable  pain  when 
these  enlargements  are  pressed  upon.  They  rapidly  increase,  they 
become  more  hot  and  red,  various  shining  protuberances  appear  about  the 
projection,  and  at  length  the  tumour  ulcerates.  A  considerable  degree 
of  sanious  matter  flows  from  the  aperture. 

The  tumours,  however,  after  a  while  diminish  in  size ;  the  heat  and 
redness  diminish  ;  the  ulcer  partly  or  entirely  closes,  but,  after  a  while, 
and  especially  when  the  next  period  of  restrum  arrives,  the  tumour  again 
increases,  and  with  far  greater  rapidity  than  before,  and  then  comes  the 
necessity  of  the  removal  of  the  tumour,  or  if  not,  the  destruction  of  the 
animal.  In  the  great  majority  of  cases,  the  removal  of  the  cancer  does 
not  destroy  the  dog,  but  lessens  its  torture.  The  knife  and  the  forceps 
must  usually  be  resorted  to,  and  in  the  hands  of  a  skilful  surgeon  the  life 
of  the  animal  will  be  saved. 

When  the  cancer  is  attached  to  the  neighbouring  parts  by  cellular  sub- 
stance alone,  no  difficulty  will  be  experienced  in  detaching  the  whole  of  it. 
The  operation  will  be  speedily  performed,  and  there  will  be  end  of  the 
matter ;  but,  if  the  tumour  has  been  neglected,  and  the  muscular,  the  cel- 
lular, or  even  the  superficial  parts  have  been  attacked,  the  utmost  caution 
is  requisite  that  every  diseased  portion  shall  be  removed.  Mr.  Blaine  adds 
to  this  that  "  it  must  also  be  taken  into  the  account,  that,  although  in  the 
canine  cancer  ulceration  does  not  often  reappear  in  the  immediate  part,  when 
the  operation  has  been  judiciously  performed,  yet,  when  the  constitution  has 
been  long  affected  with  this  ulcerative  action,  it  is  very  apt  to  show  itself  in 
some  neighbouring  part  soon  after." 


248  FUNGUS  ELEMATODES — SORE  FEET. 

FUNGUS  HJEMATODES. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1836,  a  valuable  pointer  dog  was  sent  to  Mr. 
Adam  of  Beaufort,  quite  emaciated,  with  total  loss  of  appetite,  and  with 
a  large  fungus  haematodes  about  the  middle  of  the  right  side  of  his  neck. 
It  had  begun  to  appear  about  five  months  before,  and  was  not  at  first  larger 
than  a  pea.  Mr.  Adam  gave  him  a  purgative  of  Barbadoes  aloes,  which 
caused  the  discharge  of  much  fetjd  matter  from  the  intestines.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  three  days  he  removed  the  tumour  with  the  knife.  There  was 
a  full  discharge  of  healthy  matter  from  the  wound.  During  the  period  of 
its  healing  the  animal  was  well  fed,  and  ferruginous  tonics  were  given.  In 
a  little  more  than  three  weeks  the  wound  had  completely  filled  up  with 
healthy  granulations,  and  the  dog  was  sent  home  to  all  appearance  quite  well. 

At  the  expiration  of  three  months  another  tumour  made  its  appearance 
near  the  situation  of  the  former  one,  growing  fast ;  it  had  attained  nearly 
the  size  of  the  other.  Mr.  Adam  removed  it  immediately,  ordering  a 
system  of  nutritive  feeding  and  tonics.  It  appeared  at  first  to  go  on 
favourably;  but,  five  days  after  the  removal  of  the  second  one,  a  third 
made  its  appearance. 

This  was  removed  at  the  expiration  of  another  five  days  ;  but  the  animal 
was  totally  unable  to  walk,  with  very  laborious  breathing  and  cold  ex- 
tremities. A  cathartic  was  given  and  the  legs  bandaged  ;  but  the  wounds 
made  no  progress  towards  healing,  and  at  the  end  of  three  days  he  died. 
On  exposing  the  cavity  of  the  thorax  it  was  almost  covered  with  variously 
formed  tumours,  from  the  size  of  a  pigeon's  egg  to  that  of  a  small  pea. 
The  intercostal  muscles  had  many  of  these  adhering  to  them,  and  a  few 
small  ones  were  developed  on  the  heart.  There  were  three  on  the  dia- 
phragm, in  the  centre  of  which  matter  was  formed.  The  blood-vessels, 
kidneys,  &c.,  were  free  from  disease.  These  tumours  were  white,  or  nearly 
so,  rather  hard,  and  of  a  glandular  substance.  The  external  ones  were  soft, 
red,  and  almost  destitute  of  blood-vessels,  except  the  first,  which  bled  con- 
siderably. There  was  dropsy  of  the  abdomen. 

SORE  FEET 

constitute  a  frequent  and  troublesome  complaint.  It  consists  of  inflamma- 
tion of  the  vascular  substance,  between  the  epidermis  and  the  parts  beneath. 
It  is  the  result  of  numerous  slight  contusions,  produced  by  long  travelling 
in  dry  weather,  or  hunting  over  a  hard  and  rough  country,  or  one  covered 
with  frost  and  snow.  The  irritation  with  which  it  commences  continues 
to  increase,  and  a  certain  portion  of  fluid  is  determined  to  the  feet,  and 
tubercles  are  formed,  hard,  hot,  and  tender,  until  the  whole  foot  is  in  a 
diseased  state,  considerably  enlarged.  The  animal  sadly  suffers,  and  is 
scarcely  able  to  stand  up  for  a  minute.  Sometimes  the  ardour  of  the  chace 
will  make  him  for  a  while  forget  all  this ;  but  on  his  return,  and  when 
he  endeavours  to  repose  himself,  it  is  with  difficulty  that  he  can  be  got  up 
again.  The  toes  become  enlarged,  the  skin  red  and  tender,  and  the  horny 
sole  becomes  detached  and  drops.  Local  fever,  and  that  to  a  considerable 
extent,  becomes  established  ;  it  re-acts  on  the  general  economy  of  the 
animal,  who  scarcely  moves  from  his  bed,  and  at  length  refuses  all  food. 
At  other  times  a  separation  takes  place  between  the  dermis  and  the  epider- 
mis, which  is  a  perfect  mass  of  serosity. 


SORE    FEET.  249 

Still,  however,  it  is  only  when  all  this  has  much  increased,  or  has  been 
neglected,  that  any  permanently  dangerous  consequences  take  place. 
When  violent  inflammation  has  set  in,  the  feet  must  be  carefully  attended 
to,  or  the  dog  may  be  lamed  for  life.  One  or  two  physic-balls  may  be 
given ;  all  salted  meat  should  be  removed,  and  the  animal  supplied  with 
food  without  being  compelled  to  move  from  his  bed.  The  feet  should  be 
bathed  with  warm  water,  and  a  poultice  of  linseed  meal  applied  to  them 
twice  in  the  day.  If,  as  is  too  often  the  case,  he  should  tear  this  off,  the  feet 
should  be  often  fomented.  It  is  bad  practice  in  any  master  of  dogs  to 
suffer  them  to  be  at  all  neglected  when  there  are  any  tokens  of  inflamma- 
tion of  the  feet.  The  neglect  of  even  a  few  days  may  render  a  dog  a 
cripple  for  life.  If  there  are  evident  appearances  of  pus  collecting  about 
the  claws,  or  any  part  of  the  feet,  the  abscess  should  be  opened,  well 
bathed  with  warm  water,  and  friar's  balsam  applied  to  the  feet. 

When  the  feet  have  been  neglected,  the  nail  is  apt  to  grow  very  rapidly, 
and  curve  round  and  penetrate  into  the  foot.  The  forceps  should  be  ap- 
plied, and  the  claws  reduced  to  their  proper  size. 

If  there  are  any  indications  of  fever,  or  if  the  dog  should  be  continually 
lying  down,  or  he  should  hold  up  his  feet,  and  keep  them  apart  as  much 
as  he  can,  scarifications  or  poultices,  or  both,  should  be  resorted  to. 

When  the  feet  of  a  dog  become  sore  in  travelling,  the  foolish  habit  of 
washing  them  with  brine  should  never  be  permitted,  although  it  is  very 
commonly  resorted  to.  Warm  fomentations,  or  warm  pot-liquor,  or 
poultices  of  linseed  meal  should  be  applied,  or,  if  matter  is  apparently 
forming,  the  lancet  may  be  resorted  to. 

Dogs  are  frequently  sent  to  the  hospital  with  considerable  redness  between 
the  toes  and  ichorous  discharge,  and  the  toes  thickened  round  the  base  of 
the  nails,  as  if  they  were  inclined  to  drop  off.  The  common  alterative 
medicine  should  be  given,  and  a  lotion  composed  of  hydrarg.  oxym.  gr.  vi., 
alcohol  3J.,  et  aq.  calcis  jiiij.,  should  be  applied  to  the  feet  three  times 
every  day.  Leathern  gloves  should  be  sewn  on  them.  These  cases  are 
often  very  obstinate. 

Generally  speaking,  the  dog  has  five  toes  on  the  fore  feet,  and  four  on 
the  hind  feet,  with  a  mere  rudiment  of  a  fifth  metatarsal  bone  in  some 
feet ;  but,  in  others,  the  fifth  bone  is  long  and  well  proportioned,  and 
advances  as  far  as  the  origin  of  the  first  phalanx  of  the  neighbouring  toe. 


250  FRACTURES. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

FRACTURES. 

THESE  are  of  not  unfrequent  occurrence  in  the  dog ;  and  I  once  had  five 
cases  in  my  hospital  at  the  same  time. 

In  the  human  subject,  fractures  are  more  frequent  in  adults,  and,  perhaps, 
in  old  men  than  in  infants ;  but  this  is  not  the  case  with  the  smaller  animals 
generally,  and  particularly  with  dogs.  Five-sixths  of  the  fractures  occur 
between  the  time  of  weaning  and  the  animal  being  six  months  old ;  not, 
perhaps,  because  of  their  chemical  composition,  that  the  bones  are  more 
fragile  at  this  age ;  but  because  young  dogs  are  more  exposed  to  fall  from 
the  hands  of  the  persons  who  carry  them,  and  from  the  places  to  which 
they  climb ;  and  the  extremities  of  the  bones,  then  being  in  the  state  of 
epiphysis,  are  easily  separated  from  the  body  of  the  bone.  When  the 
fracture  takes  place  in  the  body  of  the  bone,  it  is  transverse  or  somewhat 
oblique,  but  there  is  scarcely  any  displacement. 

A  simple  bandage  will  be  sufficient  for  the  reduction  of  these  fractures, 
which  may  be  removed  in  ten  or  twelve  days,  when  the  preparatory  callus 
has  acquired  some  consistence.  One  only  out  of  twenty  dogs  that  were 
brought  to  me  with  fractures  of  the  extremities,  in  the  year  1834,  died. 
Two  dogs  had  their  jaws  fractured  by  kicks  from  horses,  and  lost  several 
of  their  teeth.  In  one  of  them  the  anterior  part  of  the  jaw  was  fractured 
perpendicularly ;  in  the  other,  both  branches  were  fractured.  Plenty  of 
good  soup  was  injected  into  their  mouths.  Ten  or  twelve  days  afterwards, 
they  were  suffered  to  lap  it ;  and  in  a  little  while  they  were  dismissed 
cured. 

It  will  be  desirable,  perhaps,  to  describe  our  usual  method  of  reducing 
the  greater  part  of  the  fractures  which  come  under  our  notice. 

I. — The  humerus  was  fractured  just  above  the  elbow  and  close  to  the 
joint.  The  limb  was  enclosed  in  adhesive  plaster,  and  supported  by  a  firm 
bandage.  The  bones  were  beginning  to  unite,  when,  by  some  means  con- 
cerning which  I  could  never  satisfy  myself,  the  tibia  was  broken  a  little 
above  the  hock.  Nothing  could  well  be  done  with  this  second  fracture  ; 
but  great  care  was  taken  with  regard  to  the  former.  The  lower  head  of 
the  humerus  remained  somewhat  enlarged ;  but  the  lameness  became  very 
slight,  and  in  three  weeks  had  nearly  or  quite  disappeared.  Nothing  was 
done  to  the  second  fracture  ;  in  fact,  nothing  more  than  a  slight  annular 
enlargement,  surrounding  the  part,  remained — a  proof  of  the  renovating 
power  of  nature. 

II. — A  spaniel  was  run  over  by  a  light  carriage.  It  was  unable  to  put 
the  left  hind  leg  to  the  ground,  and  at  the  upper  tuberosity  of  the  ileum 
some  crepitus  could  be  distinguished.  I  subtracted  six  ounces  of  blood, 
administered  a  physic-ball,  and  ordered  the  patient  to  be  well  fomented 
with  warm  water  several  times  during  the  night.  On  the  following  day  no 
wound  could  be  discovered,  but  there  was  great  tenderness.  I  continued 
the  fomentation.  Two  or  three  days  afterwards  she  was  evidently  easier. 


FRACTURES.  251 

I  then  had  the  hair  cut  close,  and  covered  the  loins  and  back  with  a  pitch- 
plaster.  At  the  expiration  of  six  days  the  plaster  was  getting  somewhat 
loose,  and  was  replaced  by  another  with  which  a  very  small  quantity  of 
powdered  cantharides  was  mingled.  At  the  expiration  of  the  fifth  week 
she  was  quite  well. 

III. — The  thigh-bone  had  been  broken  a  fortnight.  It  was  a  com- 
pound fracture :  the  divided  edges  of  the  bone  protruded  through  the 
integuments,  and  there  was  no  disposition  to  unite.  It  is  not  in  one  case 
in  a  hundred  that  an  animal  thus  situated  can  be  saved.  We  failed  in  our 
efforts,  and  the  dog  was  ultimately  destroyed. 

IV. — The  femur  was  broken  near  the  hip.  I  saw  it  on  the  third  day, 
when  much  heat  and  swelling  had  taken  place.  I  ordered  the  parts  to  be 
frequently  bathed  with  warm  water.  The  heat  and  tenderness  to  a  con- 
siderable degree  subsided,  and  the  pitch  plaster  was  carefully  applied.  At 
the  expiration  of  a  week  the  plaster  began  to  be  loosened.  A  second  one 
was  applied,  and  when  a  fortnight  longer  had  passed  a  slight  degree  of 
tenderness  alone  remained. 

V. — The  following  account  is  characteristic  of  the  bull  terrier.  The 
radius  had  been  broken,  and  was  set,  and  the  bones  were  decidedly  united, 
when  the  dog,  in  a  moment  of  frantic  rage,  seized  his  own  leg  and  crushed 
some  of  the  bones.  They  were  once  more  united,  but  his  wrist  bent  under 
him  in  the  form  of  a  concave  semicircle,  as  if  some  of  the  ligaments  of 
the  joint  had  been  ruptured  in  the  moment  of  rage.  It  was  evident  on  the 
following  day  that  it  was  impossible  to  control  him,  and  he  was  destroyed. 

VI. — A  spaniel,  three  months  old,  became  fractured  halfway  between  the 
wrist  and  the  elbow.  A  surgeon  bound  it  up,  and  it  became  swollen  to  an 
enormous  size,  from  the  adhesive  plaster  that  had  been  applied  and  the 
manner  of  placing  the  splints.  I  removed  the  splints.  On  the  following 
morning  I  had  the  arm  frequently  fomented :  a  very  indistinct  crepitus 
could  be  perceived  at  the  point  of  the  humerus  :  I  applied  another  plaster 
higher  up,  and  including  the  elbow.  The  hair  not  having  been  cut  suffi- 
ciently close,  the  plaster  was  removed,  applied  much  more  neatly  and 
closely,  and  the  original  fracture  was  firmly  bound  together.  No  crepitus 
was  now  to  be  perceived. 

I  saw  no  more  of  our  patient  for  four  days,  when  I  found  that  he  had 
fallen,  and  that  the  elbow  on  the  other  side  was  fractured  within  the 
capsular  ligament.  A  very  distinct  crepitus  could  be  felt,  and  the  dog 
cried  sadly  when  the  joint  was  moved.  I  would  have  destroyed  him,  but 
he  was  a  favourite  with  his  master,  and  we  tried  what  a  few  days  more 
would  produce.  I  enclosed  the  whole  of  the  limb  in  a  plaster  of  pitch, 
and  bound  it  up  without  splints.  Both  the  bandages  remained  on  nearly 
a  fortnight,  when  the  fractures  were  found  to  be  perfectly  united,  and  the 
lameness  in  both  legs  gradually  disappeared. 

VII. — July  22,  1843.  A  spaniel  was  frightened  with  something  on  the 
bed,  and  fell  from  it,  and  cried  very  much.  The  instep,  or  wrist,  of  the 
right  leg  before  was  evidently  bowed,  and  there  was  considerable  heat  and 
tenderness.  It  was  well  fomented  on  the  two  following  days  and  then  set, 
and  adhesive  plaster  was  tightly  applied,  and  a  splint  bound  over  that. 
24th.  The  foot  began  to  swell,  and  was  evidently  painful.  The  outer  ban- 
dage was  loosened  a  little,  but  the  inner  bandage  was  not  touched.  Aug.  4. 
The  bandage,  that  had  not  been  meddled  with  for  eleven  days,  now  appeared 
to  give  him  some  pain.  For  the  last  two  days  he  has  been  gently  licking 


252  FRACTURES. 

and  gnawing  it.  The  splints  were  removed ;  but  the  adhesive  plaster  ap- 
pearing even  and  firm  was  suffered  to  remain.  26th.  Everything  appeared 
to  be  going  on  well,  when  he  again  leaped  from  his  bed.  The  wrist  was 
much  more  bowed,  and  was  tender  and  hot.  Simple  lint  and  a  firm  calico 
bandage  were  had  recourse  to.  27th.  He  is  unable  to  put  his  foot  to  the 
ground,  and  the  joint  is  certainly  enlarging.  An  adhesive  plaster,  made 
by  a  Frenchman,  was  applied  at  the  owner's  request,  over  which  was 
placed  a  splint.  The  dog  soon  began  to  gnaw  the  plaster,  which  formed 
a  sticky  but  not  very  adhesive  mass.  Before  night  the  pain  appeared  to 
be  very  great,  and  the  dog  cried  excessively.  I  was  sent  for.  We  well 
fomented  the  leg,  and  then  returned  to  our  former  treatment.  There  was 
evidently  a  great  deal  of  pain,  but  it  gradually  passed  over,  and  a  slight 
degree  of  lameness  alone  remained. 

I  have  great  pleasure  in  adding  the  following  accounts  of  the  successful 
treatment  of  fractures  in  dogs  by  Mr.  Percivall : — 

"  Hopeless  as  cases  of  fracture  in  horses  generally  are,  from  the  difficulty 
experienced  in  managing  the  patient,  they  are  by  no  means  to  be  so 
regarded  in  dogs.  I  have  in  several  instances  seen  dogs  recover,  and  with 
very  good  use  of  the  parts,  if  not  perfect  restoration  of  them,  when  the 
accidents  have  been  considered,  at  the  time  they  took  place,  of  a  nature  so 
irremediable  as  to  render  it  advisable  to  destroy  the  animals. 

"  May  4,  1 839.  A  valuable  Irish  spaniel  fell  from  a  high  wall,  and 
fractured  his  off  shoulder.  On  examination,  I  found  the  os  humeri  frac- 
tured about  an  inch  above  its  radial  extremity,  causing  the  limb  to  drop 
pendulously  from  the  side,  and  depriving  the  animal  of  all  use  of  it.  The 
arm,  by  which  I  mean  the  fore  arm,  was  movable  in  any  direction  upon 
the  shoulder,  arid  there  was  distinct  crepitus  :  in  a  word,  the  nature  of  the 
accident  was  too  plain  to  admit  of  doubt ;  nor  was  there  any  splinter  or 
loose  piece  of  bone  discoverable.  I  directed  that  the  animal  might  be 
laid  flat  upon  his  sound  side  in  a  hamper,  or  covered  basket  or  box,  of 
sufficient  dimensions,  but  not  large  enough  to  admit  of  his  moving  about ; 
to  have  his  hind  legs  fettered,  his  mouth  muzzled,  and  his  injured  parts 
covered  with  a  linen  cloth  wetted  with  a  spirit  lotion.  May  5.  The  parts 
are  tumefied,  but  not  more,  nor  even  so  much  as  one  might  have  expected. 
Continue  the  lotion.  6th.  At  my  request,  Mr.  Youatt  was  called  in  to 
give  his  opinion  as  to  the  probability  of  effecting  a  cure.  He  thought  from 
the  inconvenient  situation  of  the  fracture,  that  the  chances  of  success  were 
doubtful ;  and  recommended  that  a  plaster,  composed  of  thick  sheep-skin 
and  pitch,  cut  to  the  shape  of  the  parts,  should  be  applied,  extending  from 
the  upper  part  of  the  shoulder  down  upon  the  arm,  and  reaching  to  the 
knee ;  and  that  the  whole  should  be  enveloped  in  well-applied  bandages, 
one  of  them  being  carried  over  the  shoulders  and  brought  round  between 
the  fore  legs,  to  support  the  limb,  and  aid  in  retaining  the  fractured  ends 
in  apposition.  Prior  to  the  application  of  the  pitch  plaster  the  hair  was 
closely  shorn  off.  Thus  bound  up,  the  dog  was  replaced  in  his  hamper, 
and  had  some  aperient  medicine  given  to  him.  8th.  The  medicine  has 
operated  ;  and  he  appears  going  on  well,  his  appetite  continuing  unim- 
paired. 10th.  He  growls  when  I  open  the  basket  to  look  at  him.  On 
examining  him  (while  his  keeper  had  hold  of  him),  I  found  the  plaster 
loosening  from  its  adhesion ;  I  took  it  off  altogether,  and  applied  a  fresh 
one,  composed  of  the  stopping  composition  I  use  for  horses'  feet.  June  7. 
Up  to  this  time  everything  appears  to  have  been  going  on  properly.  The 


FRACTURES.  253 

fracture  feels  as  if  it  were  completely  united,  and,  as  the  plaster  continues 
to  adhere  firmly,  I  thought  the  bandages  enveloping  it,  as  they  were  often 
getting  loose,  might  now  be  dispensed  with,  and  that  the  dog  might  with 
benefit  be  chained  to  a  kennel,  instead  of  being  so  closely  confined  as  he 
has  been.  In  moving,  he  does  not  attempt  to  use  the  fractured  limb, 
but  hops  along  upon  the  three  other  legs.  July.  He  has  acquired  pretty 
good  use  of  the  limb.  Being  now  at  liberty,  he  runs  about  a  good  deal ; 
halting,  from  there  being  some  shortness  of  the  limb,  but  not  so  much  as 
to  prevent  him  being  serviceable,  as  a  *  slow '  hunter,  in  the  sporting- 
field. 

"  About  a  twelvemonth  ago,"  continues  Mr.  Percivall,  "  I  was  consulted 
concerning  a  blood-hound  of  great  size  and  beauty,  and  of  the  cost  of  501. 
that  had  been  a  cripple  in  one  of  his  hind  limbs  for  some  considerable 
time  past,  owing,  it  was  said  or  thought,  to  having  received  some  injury. 
After  a  very  careful  handling  and  examination  of  the  parts  about  the  hips, 
the  places  where  he  expressed  pain,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  there 
had  been,  and  still  existed,  some  fracture  of  the  ischial portion  of  the  pelvis, 
but  precisely  where,  or  of  what  nature,  I  could  not  determine ;  and  all 
the  treatment  I  could  recommend  was,  that  the  animal  should  be  shut  up 
within  a  basket  or  box  of  some  sort,  of  dimensions  only  sufficient  to  enable 
him  to  lie  at  ease,  and  that  he  be  kept  there  for  at  least  six  months,  with- 
out being  taken  out,  save  for  the  purpose  of  having  his  bed  cleansed  or 
renewed.  His  owner  had  previously  made  up  his  mind  to  have  him 
destroyed :  understanding,  however,  from  me,  that  there  still  remained  a 
chance  of  his  recovery,  he  ordered  his  groom  to  procure  a  proper  basket, 
and  see  that  the  dog's  confinement  was  such  as  I  had  prescribed.  The 
man  asked  me  to  allow  him  to  have  his  kennel,  which,  being  no  larger 
than  was  requisite  for  him,  I  did  not  object  to  ;  and  to  this  he  had  an  iron 
lattice-door  made,  converting  it  into  a  sort  of  wild-beast  cage.  After  two 
months'  confinement  I  had  him  let  out  for  a  short  run,  and  perceived 
evident  amendment.  I  believe  altogether  that  he  was  imprisoned  five 
months,  and  then  was  found  so  much  improved  that  I  had  him  chained  to 
his  kennel  for  the  remaining  month,  and  this,  I  believe,  was  continued  for 
another  month.  The  issue  was  the  complete  recovery  of  the  animal,  very 
much  to  the  gratification  and  joy  of  his  master,  by  whom  he  is  regarded 
as  a  kind  of  unique  or  unobtainable  production. 

"  The  fractures  of  dogs  and  other  animals  must,  of  course,  be  treated 
in  accordance  with  all  the  circumstances  of  their  cases  ;  but  I  have  always 
considered  it  a  most  essential  part  of  their  treatment  that  such  portable 
patients  as  dogs  and  cats,  &c.,  should  be  placed  and  kept  in  a  state  of  con- 
finement where  they  either  could  not,  or  were  not  likely  to,  use  or  move 
the  fractured  parts ;  and,  moreover,  I  have  thought  that  failure,  where  it 
has  resulted  after  such  treatment,  has  arisen  from  its  not  having  been  suffi- 
ciently long  persisted  in." 

In  the  opinion  of  Professor  Simonds,  when  there  is  fracture  of  the 
bones  of  the  extremities,  a  starch  bandage  is  the  best  that  can  be  employed. 
If  applied  wet,  it  adapts  itself  to  the  irregularities  of  the  limbs,  and  if 
allowed  to  remain  on  twelve  hours  undisturbed  it  forms  a  complete  case 
for  the  part,  and  affords  more  equal  support  than  anything  else  that  can 
possibly  be  used. 

The  following  case  was  one  of  considerable  interest.  It  came  under 
the  care  of  Professor  Simonds.  Two  gentlemen  were  playing  at  quoits, 


254  FRACTURES. 

and  the  dog  of  one  of  them  was  struck  on  the  head  by  a  quoit,  and  supposed 
to  be  killed.  His  owner  took  him  up,  and  found  that  he  was  not  dead, 
although  dreadfully  injured.  It  being  near  the  Thames,  his  owner  took 
him  to  the  edge  of  the  river,  and  dashed  some  water  over  him,  and  he 
rallied  a  little.  Professor  Simonds  detected  a  fracture  of  the  skull,  with 
pressure  on  the  brain,  arising  from  a  portion  of  depressed  bone.  The  dog 
was  perfectly  unconscious,  frequently  moaning,  quite  incapable  of  standing, 
and  continually  turning  round  upon  his  belly,  his  straw,  or  his  bed.  It 
was  a  case  of  coma ;  he  took  no  food,  and  the  pulsation  at  the  heart  was 
very  indistinct. 

"  I  told  the  proprietor  that  there  was  no  chance  of  recovery  except  by 
an  operation  ;  and,  even  then,  I  thought  it  exceedingly  doubtful.  I  was 
desired  to  operate,  and  I  took  him  home. 

"  The  head  was  now  almost  twice  as  large  as  when  the  accident  oc- 
curred, proceeding  from  a  quantity  of  coagulated  blood  that  had  been 
effused  under  the  skin  covering  the  skull.  I  gave  him  a  dose  of  aperient 
medicine,  and  on  the  following  morning  commenced  my  operation." 

"  The  hair  was  clipped  from  the  head,  and  an  incision  carried  imme- 
diately from  between  the  eye-brows  to  the  back  part  of  the  skull,  in  the 
direction  of  the  sagittal  suture.  Another  incision  was  made  from  this 
towards  the  root  of  the  ear.  This  triangular  flap  was  then  turned  back, 
in  order  to  remove  the  coagulated  blood  and  make  a  thorough  exposure 
of  the  skull.  I  was  provided  with  a  trephine,  thinking  that  only  a  por- 
tion of  the  bone  had  been  depressed  on  the  brain,  and  it  would  be  neces- 
sary, with  that  instrument,  to  separate  it  from  its  attachment,  and  then 
with  an  elevator  remove  it ;  but  I  found  that  the  greater  part  of  the  pa- 
rietal bone  was  depressed,  and  that  the  fracture  extended  along  the  sa- 
gittal suture  from  the  coronal  and  lamdoidal  sutures.  At  three-fourths 
of  the  width  of  the  bone,  the  fracture  ran  parallel  with  the  sagittal 
suture,  and  this  large  portion  was  depressed  upon  the  tunics  of  the  brain, 
the  dura  mater  being  considerably  lacerated.  The  depressed  bone  was 
raised  with  an  elevator,  and  I  found,  from  its  lacerated  edges  and  the  extent 
of  the  mischief  done,  that  it  was  far  wiser  to  remove  it  entirely,  than  to 
allow  it  to  remain  and  take  the  chance  of  its  uniting. 

"  In  a  few  days,  the  dog  began  to  experience  relief  from  the  operation, 
and  to  be  somewhat  conscious  of  what  was  taking  place  around  him.  He 
still  requires  care  and  attention,  and  proper  medicinal  agents  to  be  admi- 
nistered from  time  to  time ;  but  with  the  exception  of  occasionally  turning 
round  when  on  the  floor,  he  takes  his  food  well  and  obeys  his  master's 
call."* 

a  Trans.  Vet.  Med.  Assoc.,  i.  51. 


MEDICINES.  255 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

MEDICINES    USED    IN    THE    TREATMENT    OF    THE    DISEASES    OF 

THE  DOG. 

THESE  are  far  more  numerous  and  complicated  than  would,  on  the  first 
consideration  of  them,  be  imagined.  The  Veterinary  Surgeon  has  a  long 
list  of  them,  suited  to  the  wants  and  dangers,  imaginary  or  real,  of  his 
patients ;  and  he  who  is  not  scientifically  acquainted  with  them,  will  occa- 
sionally blunder  in  the  choice  of  remedies,  or  the  application  of  the 
means  of  cure  which  he  adopts.  Little  attention  may,  perhaps,  be  paid  to 
the  medical  treatment  of  the  dog ;  yet  it  requires  not  a  little  study  and 
experience.  I  will  endeavour  to  give  a  short  account  of  the  drugs,  and 
mode  of  using  them,  generally  employed. 

The  administering  of  medicines  to  dogs  is,  generally  speaking,  simple 
and  safe,  if  a  little  care  is  taken  about  the  matter,  and  especially  if  two 
persons  are  employed  in  the  operation.  The  one  should  be  sitting  with 
the  dog  between  his  knees,  and  the  hinder  part  of  the  animal  resting  on 
the  floor.  The  mouth  is  forced  open  by  the  pressure  of  the  fore-finger  and 
thumb  upon  the  lips  of  the  upper  jaw,  and  the  medicine  can  be  conve- 
niently introduced  with  the  other  hand,  and  passed  sufficiently  far  into  the 
throat  to  insure  its  not  being  returned.  The  mouth  should  be  closed  and 
kept  so,  until  the  bolus  has  been  seen  to  pass  down.  Mr.  Elaine  thus 
describes  the  difference  between  the  administration  of  liquid  and  solid 
medicines  : — "  A  little  attention  will  prevent  all  danger.  A  ball  or  bolus 
should  be  passed  completely  over  the  root  of  the  tongue,  and  pushed  some 
way  backward  and  forward.  When  a  liquid  is  given,  if  the  quantity  is 
more  than  can  be  swallowed  at  one  effort,  it  should  be  removed  from  the 
mouth  at  each  deglutition,  or  the  dog  may  be  strangled.  Balls  of  a  soft  con- 
sistence, and  those  composed  of  nauseous  ingredients,  should  be  wrapped 
in  thin  paper,  or  they  may  disgust  the  dog  and  produce  sickness." 

Dogs  labouring  under  disease  should  be  carefully  nursed  :  more  depends 
on  this  than  many  persons  seem  to  be  aware.  A  warm  and  comfortable 
bed  is  of  a  great  deal  more  consequence  than  many  persons  who  are  fond 
of  their  dogs  imagine.  Cleanliness  is  also  an  essential  point.  Harshness 
of  manner  and  unkind  treatment  will  evidently  aggravate  many  of  their 
complaints.  I  have  sometimes  witnessed  an  angry  word  spoken  to  a  healthy 
dog  produce  instant  convulsions  in  a  distempered  one  that  happened  to  be 
near ;  and  the  fits  that  come  on  spontaneously  in  distemper,  almost  in- 
stantly leave  the  dog  by  soothing  notice  of  him. 

Acidum  Acetum  (  Vinegar). — This  is  useful  for  sprains,  bruises,  and  fo- 
mentations. 

Acidum  Nitricum  (Nitric  Acid;  Aqua  Fortis). — This  may  be  used  with 
advantage  to  destroy  warts  or  fungous  excrescences.  A  little  of  the  acid 
should  be  dropped  on  the  part  and  bound  tightly  down.  The  protube- 


256  MEDICINES. 

ranee  will  slough  off  and  healthy  granulations  will  spring  up.  A  surer 
application  however  is  the  nitrate  of  silver. 

Acidum  Hydrocyanicum.  (Prussic  Acid). — This  is  an  excellent  appli- 
cation for  the  purpose  of  allaying  irritation  of  the  skin  in  dogs  ;  but  it  must 
be  very  carefully  watched.  I  have  seen  a  drachm  of  it  diluted  with  a  pint 
of  distilled  water,  rapidly  allay  cuticular  inflammation.  The  dreadful  de- 
gree of  itching  which  had  been  observed  during  the  last  two  or  three  years 
yielded  to  this  application  alone ;  and  to  that  it  has  almost  invariably 
yielded,  a  little  patience  being  used. 

Acupuncturation  is  a  practice  lately  introduced  into  veterinary  surgery. 
It  denotes  the  insertion  of  a  needle  into  the  skin  or  flesh  of  a  person  or 
animal  suffering  severely  from  some  neuralgic  affection.  The  needle  is 
small  and  sharp  :  it  is  introduced  by  a  slight  pressure  and  semi-rotating 
motion  between  the  thumb  and  fore-finger,  and  afterwards  withdrawn  with 
the  same  motion.  This  should  always  employ  a  quarter  of  an  hour  at 
least,  and  in  cases  of  very  great  pain  it  should  continue  two  hours ;  but 
when  the  object  is  to  afford  an  exit  to  the  fluid  collected,  mere  puncture 
it  sufficient.  It  is  attended  with  very  little  pain  ;  and  therefore  it  may  be 
employed  at  least  with  safety  if  not  with  advantage.  The  operation  was 
known  and  practised  in  Japan  many  years  ago ;  but  it  was  only  in  the 
seventeenth  century  that  its  singular  value  was  ascertained.  In  1810  some 
trials  of  it  were  made  in  Paris,  and  M.  Chenel  took  the  lead.  He  had  a 
young  dog  that  he  had  cured  of  distemper,  except  that  a  spasmodic  affection 
of  the  left  hind  leg  remained.  He  applied  a  needle,  and  with  fair  success. 
He  failed  with  another  dog ;  but  M.  Prevost,  of  Geneva,  relieved  two  mares 
from  rheumatism,  and  an  entire  horse  that  had  been  lame  sixteen  months. 
In  the  Veterinary  School  at  Lyons  acupuncturation  was  tried  on  two  dogs. 
One  had  chorea,  and  the  other  chronic  paralysis  of  the  muscles  of  the  neck. 
The  operation  had  no  effect  on  the  first ;  the  other  came  out  of  the  hospital 
completely  cured.  In  the  following  year  acupuncturation  was  tried  with- 
out success  in  the  same  school.  Four  horses  and  two  dogs  were  operated 
upon  in  vain. 

Adeps  ( Hog's  Lard)  forms  the  basis  of  all  our  ointments.  It  is  taste- 
less, inodorous,  and  free  from  every  stimulating  quality. 

Alcohol  (Rectified  Spirit). — This  is  principally  used  in  tinctures,  and 
seldom  or  never  administered  to  the  dog  in  a  pure  state. 

Aloes,  Barbadoes. — From  these  are  formed  the  safest  and  best  aperi- 
ents for  the  dog — consisting  of  powdered  aloes  eight  parts,  antimonial 
powder  one  part,  ginger  one  part,  and  palm  oil  five  parts ;  beaten  well 
together,  and  the  size  of  the  ball  varying  from  half  a  drachm  to  two 
drachms,  and  a  ball  administered  every  fourth  or  fifth  hour.  Mr.  Elaine 
considers  it  to  be  the  safest  general  purgative.  He  says  that  such  is  the 
peculiarity  of  the  bowels  of  the  dog,  that  while  a  man  can  take  with  im- 
punity as  much  calomel  as  would  kill  two  large  dogs,  a  moderate-sized 
dog  will  take  a  quantity  of  aloes  sufficient  to  destroy  two  stout  mert.  The 
smallest  dog  can  take  15  or  20  grains ;  half  a  drachm  is  seldom  too  much  ; 
but  the  smaller  dose  had  better  be  tried  first,  for  hundreds  of  dogs  are 
every  year  destroyed  by  temerity  in  this  particular.  Medium-sized  dogs 
usually  require  a  drachm ;  and  some  large  dogs  have  taken  two  or  even 
three  drachms. 

Alteratives  are  medicines  that  effect  some  slow  change  in  the  dis- 
eased action  of  certain  parts,  without  interfering  with  the  food  or  work. 


MEDICINES.  257 

The  most  useful  consist  of  five  parts  of  sublimed  sulphur,  one  of  nitre,  one 
of  linseed  meal,  and  two  of  lard  or  palm  oil. 

Alum  is  a  powerful  astringent,  whether  employed  externally  or  inter- 
nally. It  is  occasionally  administered  in  doses  of  from  10  to  15  grains  in 
obstinate  diarrhoea.  In  some  obstinate  cases,  alum  whey  has  been  em- 
ployed in  the  fopm  of  a  clyster. 

Oxide  of  Antimony,  in  the  form  of  a  compound  powder,  and  under  the 
name  of  James's  powder,  is  employed  as  a  sudorific,  or  to  cause  a  deter- 
mination to  the  skin. 

The  Antimonii  Potassio  Tartras  (Tartar  Emetic),  besides  its  effect 
on  the  skin,  is  a  useful  nauseant,  and  invaluable  in  inflammation  of  the 
lungs  and  catarrhal  affections  of  every  kind.  The  Black  Sesquisulphuret 
of  Antimony  is  a  compound  of  sulphur  and  antimony,  and  an  excellent 
alterative. 

Argenti  Nitras — Nitrate  of  Silver  (Lunar  Caustic). — I  have  already 
strongly  advocated  the  employment  of  this  caustic  for  empoisoned  wounds 
and  bites  of  rabid  animals.  In  my  opinion  it  supersedes  the  use  of  every 
other  caustic,  and  generally  of  the  knife.  I  have  also  given  it  internally 
as  a  tonic  to  the  dog,  in  cases  of  chorea,  in  doses  from  an  eighth  to  a  quarter 
of  a  grain.  A  dilute  solution  may  be  employed  as  an  excitant  to  wounds, 
in  which  the  healing  process  has  become  sluggish.  For  this  purpose,  ten 
grains  or  more  may  be  dissolved  in  a  fluid  ounce  of  distilled  water.  A  few 
fibres  of  tow  dipped  in  this  solution,  being  drawn  through  the  channel 
which  is  left  on  the  removal  of  a  seton,  quickly  excite  the  healing  action. 
Occasionally  one  or  two  drops  of  this  solution  may  be  introduced  into  the 
eye  for  the  purpose  of  removing  opalescence  of  the  cornea.  In  cases  of 
fungoid  matter  being  thrown  out  on  the  cornea,  the  fungus  may  be  touched 
with  a  rod  of  nitrate  of  silver,  and  little  pain  will  follow. 

The  Peruvian  Bark,  or  its  active  principle  the  disulphate  of  quina, 
is  a  valuable  tonic  in  distemper,  especially  when  combined  with  the  iodide 
of  iron  ;  the  iron  increasing  the  general  tone  of  the  system,  and  the  iodine 
acting  as  a  stimulant  to  the  absorbents. 

Blisters  are  occasionally  useful  or  indispensable  in  some  of  the  casualties 
and  diseases  to  which  the  dog  is  liable.  They  are  mostly  of  the  same  de- 
scription, and  act  upon  the  same  principles  as  in  the  horse,  whether  in  the 
form  of  plaster,  or  ointment,  or  stimulating  fluid.  Blisters  can  be  kept  on 
the  dog  with  difficulty  :  nothing  short  of  a  wire  muzzle  will  suffice  ;  Mr. 
Elaine  says,  that  for  very  large  dogs,  he  used  to  be  compelled  to  make  use 
of  a  perforated  tin  one.  The  judgment  of  the  practitioner  will  determine 
in  these  cases,  as  well  as  with  regard  to  the  horse,  whether  the  desired 
effect  should  be  produced  by  severe  measures  or  by  those  of  a  milder  cha- 
racter, by  active  blisters  or  by  milder  stimulants:  the  difficulty  of  the 
measures  to  be  adopted,  and  the  degree  of  punishment  that  may  be  inflicted, 
being  never  forgotten  by  the  operator. 

We  have  stated  in  our  work  on  the  Horse,  that  "  the  art  of  blistering 
consists  in  cutting  or  rather  shaving  the  hair  perfectly  close  ;  then  well 
rubbing  in  the  ointment,  and  afterwards,  and,  what  is  of  the  greatest  con- 
sequence of  all,  plastering  a  little  more  of  the  ointment  lightly  over  the 
part,  and  leaving  it.  As  soon  as  the  vesicles  have  perfectly  risen,  which 
will  be  in  twenty  or  twenty-four  hours,  the  torture  of  the  animal  may  be 
somewhat  relieved  by  the  application  of  olive  or  neat's-foot  oil,  or  any 
emollient  ointment, 


258  MEDICINES, 

"  An  infusion  of  two  ounces  of  the  cantharides  in  a  pint  of  oil  of  turpen- 
tine, for  several  days,  is  occasionally  used  as  a  languid  blister ;  and  when 
sufficiently  lowered  with  common  oil,  it  is  called  a  sweating  oil,  for  it 
maintains  a  certain  degree  of  irritation  and  inflammation  on  the  skin,  yet 
not  sufficient  to  blister ;  and  thus  gradually  abates  or  removes  some  old  or 
deep  inflammation,  or  cause  of  lameness."  a 

Iodine  in  various  cases  is  now  rapidly  superseding  the  cantharides  and 
the  turpentine. 

Calomel. — Sufficient  has  been  said  of  this  dangerous  medicine  in  the 
course  of  the  present  work.  I  should  rarely  think  of  exhibiting  it,  except 
in  small  doses  for  the  purpose  of  producing  that  specific  influence  on  the 
liver,  which  we  know  to  "be  the  peculiar  property  of  this  drug.  In  large 
doses  it  will  to  a  certain  extent  produce  vomiting ;  and,  if  it  finds  its  way 
into  the  intestines,  it  acts  as  a  powerful  drastic  purgative. 

Castor  Oil  (Oleum  Ricini). — This  is  a  most  valuable  medicine.  It  is 
usually  combined  with  the  syrup  of  buckthorn  and  white  poppies,  in  the 
proportions  of  three  parts  of  the  oil  to  two  of  the  buckthorn  and  one  of 
the  poppy-syrup ;  which  form  a  combination  of  ingredients  in  which  the 
oleaginous,  stimulant,  and  narcotic  ingredients  happily  blend. 

Catechu. — This  is  an  extract  from  the  wood  of  an  acacia- tree  (Acacia 
catechu),  and  possesses  a  powerful  astringent  property.  It  is  given  in 
cases  of  superpurgation,  united  with  opium,  chalk,  and  powdered  gum.  A 
tincture  of  it  is  very  useful  for  the  purpose  of  hastening  the  healing  prin- 
ciple of  wounds.  Professor  Morton  says,  that  he  considers  it  as  the  most 
valuable  of  the  vegetable  astringents. 

Clysters. — Professor  Morton  gives  an  account  of  the  use  of  clysters. 
The  objects,  he  says,  for  which  they  are  administered  are — 1.  To 
empty  the  bowels  of  faeces  :  thus  they  act  as  an  aperient.  Also  to  induce 
a  cathartic  to  commence  its  operations  when,  from  want  of  exercise  or  due 
preparation,  it  is  tardy  in  producing  the  desired  effect.  Clysters  ope- 
rate in  a  twofold  way  :  first,  by  softening  the  contents  of  the  intestines ; 
and,  secondly,  by  exciting  an  irritation  in  one  portion  of  the  canal  which 
is  communicated  throughout  the  whole ;  hence  they  become  valuable 
when  the  nature  and  progress  of  the  disease  require  a  quick  evacuation  of 
the  bowels.  The  usual  enema  is  warm  water,  but  this  may  be  rendered 
more  stimulating  by  the  addition  of  salt,  oil,  or  aloes.  2.  For  the  pur- 
pose of  killing  worms  that  are  found  in  the  rectum  and  large  intestines  : 
in  this  case,  it  is  usually  of  an  oleaginous  nature.  3.  For  restraining 
diarrhoea ;  sedatives  and  astringents  being  then  employed.  4.  For  nou- 
rishing the  body  when  food  cannot  be  received  by  the  mouth.  Gruel  is 
generally  the  aliment  thus  given.  5.  For  allaying  spasms  in  the  stomach 
and  bowels. 

Copper. — Both  the  verdigris,  or  subacetate,  and  the  blue  vitriol  of  sul- 
phate of  copper  are  now  comparatively  rarely  used.  They  are  employed 
either  in  the  form  of  a  fine  powder,  or  mixed  with  an  equal  quantity  of 
the  acetate  of  lead  in  order  to  destroy  proud  flesh  or  stimulate  old  ulcers. 
They  also  form  a  part  of  the  segyptiacum  of  the  farrier.  There  are  many 
better  drugs  to  accomplish  the  same  purpose. 

Creosote  is  seldom  used  for  the  dog.  We  have  applications  quite  as 
good  and  less  dangerous.  It  may  be  employed  as  a  very  gentle  excitant 
and  antiseptic. 

a  The  Horse,  p.  501. 


MEDICINES.  259 

Greta  Preparata  (Chalk),  in  combination  with  ginger,  catechu,  and 
opium,  is  exceedingly  useful ;  indeed,  it  is  our  most  valuable  medicine  in 
all  cases  of  purging,  and  particularly  the  purging  of  distemper. 

Digitalis  is  an  exceedingly  valuable  drug.  It  is  a  direct  and  powerful 
sedative,  a  mild  diuretic,  and  useful  in  every  inflammatory  and  febrile  com- 
plaint. 

Gentian  and  Ginger  are  both  valuable ;  the  first  as  a  stomachic  and 
tonic,  and  the  last  as  a  cordial  and  tonic.  It  is  occasionally  necessary,  or 
at  least  desirable,  to  draw  this  distinction  between  them. 

Chloride  of  Lime  is  a  useful  application  for  ill-conditioned  wounds  and 
for  the  frequent  cleansing  of  the  kennel. 

Epsom  Salts,  or  Sulphate  of  Magnesia,  are  mild  yet  effective  in  their 
action :  with  regard  to  cattle  and  sheep,  they  supersede  every  other  ape- 
rient ;  for  the  dog,  however,  they  must  yield" to  the  castor-oil  mixture. 

Mercury. — The  common  mercurial  ointment  is  now  comparatively  little 
used.  It  has  given  way  to  the  different  preparations  of  iodine.  In  direct 
and  virulent  mange,  it  is  yet,  however,  employed  under  the  form  of  calo- 
mel, and  combined  with  aloes,  but  in  very  small  doses,  never  exceeding 
three  grains.  It  is  also  useful  in  farcy  and  jaundice.  The  corrosive  sub- 
limate is  occasionally  used  for  mange  in  the  dog,  and  to  destroy  vermin ; 
but  it  is  a  very  uncertain  and  dangerous  medicine. 

Palm  Oil  would  be  an  excellent  emollient,  if  it  were  not  so  frequently 
adulterated  with  turmeric  root  in  powder.  It  is  far  milder  than  the 
common  lard. 

Nitrate  of  Potash  is  a  valuable  cooling  and  mild  diuretic,  in  doses  of 
eight  or  ten  grains. 

Sulphur  is  the  basis  of  the  msot  effectual  applications  for  mange.  It  is 
a  good  alterative,  combined  usually  with  antimonials  and  nitre,  and  parti- 
cularly useful  in  mange,  surfeit,  grease,  hide-bound,  and  want  of  condition. 

Turpentine  is  an  excellent  diuretic  and  antispasmodic ;  it  is  also  a  most 
effectual  sweating  blister  and  highly  useful  in  strains. 

The  Sulphate  of  Zinc  is  valuable  as  an  excitant  to  wounds,  and  promotes 
adhesion  between  divided  surfaces  and  the  radix. 


260  LAWS   OF    COURSING. 


APPENDIX. 


THE  NEW  LAWS  OF  COURSING, 

As  Revised  and  Enlarged  at  a  Meeting  of  Noblemen  and  Gentlemen,  held  at  the 
Thatched  House  Tavern,  St.  James's  Street,  June  1,  1839. 

I.  Two  stewards  shall  be  appointed  by  the  members  at  dinner  each  day, 
to  act  in  the  field  the  following  day,  and  to  preside  at  dinner.     They  shall 
regulate  the  plan  of  beating  the  ground,  under  the  sanction  of  the  owner 
or  occupier  of  the  soil. 

II.  Three  or  five  members,  including  the  secretary  for  the  time  being, 
shall  form  a  Committee  of  Management,  and  shall  name  a  person,  for  the 
approbation  of  the  members,  to  judge  all  courses — all  doubtful  cases  shall 
be  referred  to  them. 

III.  All  courses  shall  be  from  slips,  by  a  brace  of  greyhounds  only. 

IV.  The  time  of  putting  the  first  brace  of  dogs  in  the  slips  shall  be 
declared  at  dinner  on  the  day  preceding.     If  a  prize  is  to  be  run  for,  and 
only  one  dog  is  ready,  he  shall  run  a  by,  and  his  owner  shall  receive  for- 
feit :  should  neither  be  ready,  the  course  shall  be  run  when  the  Committee 
shall  think  fit.   In  a  match,  if  only  one  dog  be  ready,  his  owner  shall  receive 
forfeit ;  if  neither  be  present,  the  match  shall  be  placed  the  last  in  the  list. 

V.  If  any  person  shall  enter  a  greyhound  by  a  name  different  from  that 
in  which  he  last  appeared  in  public,  without  giving  notice  of  such  altera- 
tion, he  shall  be  disqualified  from  winning,  and  shall  forfeit  his  match. 

VI.  No  greyhounds  shall  be  entered  as  puppies  unless  born  on  or  after 
the  1st  of  January  of  the  year  preceding  the  day  of  running. 

VII.  Any  member,  or  other  person,  running  a  greyhound  at  the  meet- 
ing, having  a  dog  at  large  which  shall  join  in  the  course  then  running, 
shall  forfeit  one  sovereign ;    and,  if  belonging  to  either  of  the  parties 
running,  the  course  shall  be  decided  against  him. 

VIII.  The  judge  ought  to  be  in  a  position  where  he  can  see  the  dogs 
leave  the  slips,  and  to  decide  by  the  colour  of  the  dogs  to  a  person  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose  :  his  decision  shall  be  final. 

IX.  If,  in  running  for  prizes,  the  judge  shall  be  of  opinion  that  the 
course  has  not  been  of  sufficient  length  to  enable  him  to  decide  as  to  the 
merits  of  the  dogs,  he  shall  inquire  of  the  Committee  whether  he  is  to 
decide  the  course  or  not ;  if  in  the  negative,  the  dogs  shall  be  immediately 
put  again  into  the  slips. 

X.  The  judge  shall  not  answer  any  questions  put  to  him  regarding  a 
course,  unless  such  questions  are  asked  by  the  Committee. 

XI.  If  any  member  make  any  observation  in  the  hearing  of  the  judge 
respecting  a  course,  during  the  time  of  running,  or  before  he  shall  have 
delivered  his  judgment,  he  shall  forfeit  one  sovereign  to  the  fund  ;  and,  if 


LAWS    OF    COURSING.  261 

either  dog  be  his  own  he  shall  lose  the  course.     If  he  impugn  the  decision 
of  the  judge,  he  shall  forfeit  two  sovereigns. 

XII.  When  a  course  of  an  average  length  is  so  equally  divided  that 
the  judge  shall  be  unable  to  decide  it,  the  owners  of  the  dogs  may  toss 
for  it ;  but,  if  either  refuse,  the  dogs  shall  be  again  put  in  the  slips,  at 
such  time  as  the  Committee  may  think  fit ;  but,  if  either  dog  be  drawn,  the 
winning  dog  shall  not  be  obliged  to  run  again. 

XIII.  In  running  a  match  the  judge  may  declare  the  course  to  be  un- 
decided. 

XIV.  If  a  member  shall  enter  more  than  one  greyhound,  bond  fide  his 
own  property,  for  a  prize,  his  dogs  shall  not  run  together,  if  it  be  possible 
to  avoid  it ;  and,  if  two  greyhounds,  the  property  of  the  same  member, 
remain  to  the  last  tie,  he  may  run  it  out  or  draw  either,  as  he  shall  think  fit. 

XV.  When  dogs  engaged  are  of  the  same  colour,  the  last  drawn  shall 
wear  a  collar. 

XVI.  If  a  greyhound  stand  still  in  a  course  when  a  hare  is  in  his  or 
her  sight,  the  owner  shall  lose  the  course ;  but,  if  a  greyhound  drops 
from  exhaustion,  and  it  shall  be  the  opinion  of  the  judge  that  the  merit 
up  to  the  time  of  falling  was  greatly  in  his  or  her  favour,  then  the  judge 
shall  have  power  to  award  the  course  to  the  greyhound  so  falling,  if  he 
think  fit. 

XVII.  Should  two  hares  be  on  foot,  and  the  dogs  separate  before  reach- 
ing the  hare  slipped  at,  the  course  shall  be  undecided,  and  shall  be  run 
over  again  at  such  time  as  the  Committee  shall  think  fit,  unless  the  owners 
of  the  dogs  agree  to  toss  for  it,  or  to  draw  one  dog ;  and  if  the  dogs 
separate  after  running  some  time,  it  shall  be  at  the  discretion  of  the  Com- 
mittee whether  the  course  shall  be  decided  up  to  the  point  of  separation. 

XVIII.  A  course  shall  end  if  either  dog  be  so  unsighted  as  to  cause  an 
impediment  in  the  course. 

XIX.  If  any  member  or  his  servant  ride  over  his  opponent's  dog  when 
running,  so  as  to  injure  him  in  the  course,  the  dog  so  ridden  over  shall  be 
deemed  to  win  the  course. 

XX.  It  is  recommended  to  all  union  meetings  to  appoint  a  committee 
of  five,  consisting  of  members  of  different  clubs,  to  determine  all  difficulties 
and  cases  of  doubt. 

The  following  general  rules  are  recommended  to  judges  for  their  guidance  : 

The  features  of  merit  are — 

The  race  from  slips,  and  the  first  turn  or  wrench  of  the  hare  (provided 
it  be  a  fair  slip),  and  a  straight  run-up. 

Where  one  dog  gives  the  other  a  go-by  when  both  are  in  their  full 
speed,  and  turns  or  wrenches  the  hare.  (N.B.  If  one  dog  be  in  the 
stretch,  and  the  other  only  turning  at  the  time  he  passes,  it  is  not  a  fair 
go-by.) 

Where  one  dog  turns  the  hare  when  she  is  leading  homewards,  and 
keeps  the  lead  so  as  to  serve  himself,  and  makes  a  second  turn  of  the  hare 
without  losing  the  lead. 

A  catch  or  kill  of  the  hare,  when  she  is  running  straight  and  leading 
homewards,  is  fully  equal  to  a  turn  of  the  hare  when  running  in  the  same 
direction,  or  perhaps  more,  if  he  show  the  speed  over  the  other  dog  in 
doing  it.  If  a  dog  draws  the  fleck  from  the  hare,  and  causes  her  to  wrench 
or  rick  only,  it  is  equal  to  a  turn  of  the  hare  when  leading  homewards. 


262  LAWS   OF    COURSING. 

When  a  dog  wrenches  or  ricks  a  hare  twice  following,  without  losing 
the  lead,  it  is  equal  to  a  turn. 

N.B.  It  often  happens  when  a  hare  has  been  turned,  and  she  is  running 
from  home,  that  she  turns  of  her  own  accord  to  gain  ground  homeward, 
when  both  dogs  are  on  the  stretch  after  her :  in  such  a  case  the  judge 
should  not  give  the  leading  dog  a  turn. 

There  are  often  other  minor  advantages  in  a  course,  such  as  one  dog 
showing  occasional  superiority  of  speed,  turning  on  less  ground,  and 
running  the  whole  course  with  more  fire  than  his  opponent,  which  must 
be  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  judge,  who  is  to  decide  on  the  merits. 

LOCAL    RULES. 

I.  The  number  of  members  shall  be  regulated  by  the  letters  in  the 
Alphabet,  and  the  two  junior  members  shall  take  the  letters  X  and  Z,  if 
required. 

II.  The  members  shall  be  elected  by  ballot,  seven  to  constitute  a  ballot, 
and  two  black  balls  to  exclude. 

III.  The  name  of  every  person  proposed  to  be  balloted  for  as  a  member, 
shall  be  placed  over  the  chimney-piece  one  day  before  the  ballot  can 
take  place. 

IV.  No  proposition    shall   be  balloted  for  unless   put   up   over   the 
chimney-piece,  with  the  names  of  the  proposer  and  seconder,  at  or  before 
dinner  preceding  the  day  of  the  ballot,  and  read  to  the  members  at  such 
dinner. 

V.  Every  member  shall,  at  each  meeting,  run  a  greyhound  his  own 
property,  or  forfeit  a  sovereign  to  the  Club. 

VI.  No  member  shall  be  allowed  to  match  more  than  two  greyhounds 
in  the  first  class,  under  a  penalty  of  two  sovereigns  to  the  fund,  unless  such 
member  has  been  drawn  or  run  out  for  the  prizes,  in  which  case  he  shall 
be  allowed  to  run  three  dogs  in  the  first  class. 

VII.  If  any  member  shall  absent  himself  two  seasons  without  sending 
his  subscription,  he  shall  be  deemed  out  of  the  Society,  and  another  chosen 
in  his  place. 

VIII.  No  greyhound  shall  be  allowed  to  start  if  any  arrears  are  due  to 
this  Society  from  the  owner. 

IX.  Any  member  lending  another  a  greyhound  for  the  purpose   of 
saving  his  forfeit  (excepting  by  consent  of  the  members  present)  shall  for- 
feit five  sovereigns. 

X.  Any  member  running  the  dog  of  a  stranger  in  a  match  shall  cause 
the  name  of  the  owner  to  be  inserted  after  his  own  name  in  the  list,  under 
a  penalty  of  one  sovereign. 

XI.  No  stranger  shall  be  admitted  into  the  Society's  room,  unless  in- 
troduced by  a  member,  who  shall  place  the  name  of  his  friend  over  the 
chimney-piece,  with  his  own  attached  to  it ;  and  no  member  shall  intro- 
duce more  than  one  friend. 

XII.  The  members  of  the  Clubs  shall  be  honorary  members 
of  this  Society,  and  when  present  shall  be  allowed  to  run  their  greyhounds 
on  payment  of  the  annual  subscription. 

XIII.  This  Society  to  meet  on  the  in  ,  and  course 
on  the                 following  days. 


[      263      ] 


INDEX. 


ACUPUNCTURATION,  used  in  neuralgic  af- 
fections, 256  ;  mode  of  performing,  256 
Adam,  Mr.,  on  fungus  hsematodes,  248 
Adeps,  the  basis  of  all  ointments,  256 
African  wild  dog,  description  of  the,  22 
Agasaei,  British  hunting  dogs,  description 

of,  7 

Age,  the  indications  of,  180 
Albanian  dog,  description  of  the,  26 
Alcohol,  only  used  in  tinctures,  256 
Alicant  dog,  description  of  the,  104 
Aloes,  Barbadoes,  the  best  purgative,  256 
Alpine  spaniel,  description  of  the,  51 
Alteratives,  the  most  useful,  256 
Alum,  a  powerful  astringent,  257 
Amaurosis,  symptoms  of,  158 
American  wild  dogs,  description  of  the,  22 
Anaemia,  description  of,  186  ;  causes  of, 

187  ;  post-mortem  appearances,  187 
Anasarca,  nature  of,  207 

Andalusian  dog,  description  of  the,  104 

Angina,  nature  of,  182 

Antimony,  the  oxide  of,  a  sudorific,  257; 
the  black  sesquisulphuret  of,  an  altera- 
tive, 257 

Anubis,  an  Egyptian  deity  with  the  head 
of  a  dog,  4 

Anus,  polypus  in  the,  167;  fistula  in  the, 
221 

Aquafortis,  a  caustic,  255 

Argus,  the  dog  of  Ulysses,  9. 

Arrian  on  hunting,  5 

Artois  dog,  description  of  the,  104 

Ascarides,  a  species  of  worms,  218 

Ascites,  see  Dropsy 

Attention,  an  important  faculty,  111 

Auscultation,  use  of,  188,  189 

Australasian  dog,  description  of  the,  19 

BARBARY  dog,  description  of  the,  104 

Barbet,  description  of  the,  49 

Bark,  Peruvian,  a  valuable  tonic,  257 

Barry,  a  celebrated  Bernardine  dog,  anec- 
dote of,  52 

Bath,  use  of  in  puerperal  fits,  229 

Beagle,  description  of  the,  68 

Bell,  Professor,  opinion  on  the  origin  of 
the  dog,  3 

Bernardine  dog,  description  of  the,  51 

Billy,  a  celebrated  terrier,  102 

Bladder,  inflammation  of  the,  215;  rup- 
ture of  the,  217 

Blain,  nature,  causes,  treatment,  and  post- 
mortem appearances  of,  176 

Blaine,  Mr.,  opinion  on  kennel  lameness, 
80;  on  tetanus,  198;  on  dropsy,  207; 


on  calculus,  215;  on  distemper,  238; 
on  mange,  246 

Bleeding,  best  place  for,  222 ;  directions 
for,  222  ;  useful  in  epilepsy,  120  ;  useful 
in  distemper,  237 

Blenheim  spaniel,  description  of  the,  45 

Blisters,  uses  of^  257 ;  composition,  257 ; 
mode  of  applying  and  guarding,  257 

Bloodhound,  description  of  the,  89 

Brain,  comparative  bulk  of  in  different 
animals,  106  ;  description  of  the,  106 

Breaking-in  of  hounds,  76  ;  cruelty  dis- 
advantageous, 113 

Breeding  of  greyhounds,  35  ;  should  al- 
ways be  permitted,  225 

British  hunting-dogs,  Agassei,  description 
of,  7 

Bronchocele,  nature  of,  182 ;  causes  and 
treatment  of,  183 

Buansii,  or  Nepal  dog,  description  of,  1 5 

Buffon,  opinion  as  to  the  origin  of  the 
dog,  104 

Bull-dog,  description  of  the,  98 ;  crossed 
with  the  greyhound,  31 

Bull  terrier,  description  of  the,  99 

C^CUM,  description  of  the,  197 
Calculus,  nature,  causes,  and  treatment  of, 

214;  in  the  intestines,  causes  of,  202; 

cases,  203 
Calomel,    a    dangerous    medicine,    258; 

should  not  be  used  in  enteritis,  200 
Cancer,  symptoms  of,  247 ;  treatment  of, 

247 

Canis,  genus,  11 
Canker  in  the  ear,  causes,  symptoms,  and 

treatment  of,  160;  cases  of,  162 
Canute,  laws  concerning  greyhounds  by, 

29 

Cardia,  description  of  the,  194 
Castor  oil,  a  valuable  purgative,  258 
Castration,  proper  time  for,  224 ;  mode  of 

performing,  224 ;  not  recommended,  225 
Cataract  in  the  eye,  1 58 
Catarrh,  a  cause  of  distemper,  231 ;  nasal, 

235 

Catechu,  an  astringent,  258 
Caustic,  lunar,  the  best,  257 
Cayotte,  description  of  the,  22 
Chabert,  anecdote  of  the  dog  of,  58 
Chalk,  an  astringent,  259 
Charles  I.,  anecdote  of  the  dog  of,  29 
Charles  II.'s  spaniel,  description  of,  44 
Chest,  anatomy  and  diseases  of  the,  185; 

proper  form  of,  in  the  greyhound,  33 ; 

in  the  fox-hound,  72 


264 


INDEX. 


Chest-founder,  nature,  causes,  arid  treat- 
ment of,  124 

Chloride  of  lime,  uses  of,  259 

Chorea,  nature  of,  120 ;  causes,  121 ;  treat- 
ment, 121;  cases,  122;  in  distemper, 
240,  242 

Chryseus  scylex,  or  dhole,  description  of 
the,  16 

Claret,  a  celebrated  greyhound,  32 

Classification,  zoological,  11 

Climate,  effect  of,  11 

Clysters,  uses  of,  258. 

Coach-dog,  description  of  the,  26 

Cocker,  description  of  the,  44 

Colic,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment  of, 
202 

Colon,  the,  197 ;  rupture  of  the,  200 

Colour  of  the  greyhound,  34;  of  the 
pointer,  93 

Constipation,  causes  and  treatment  of,  204, 
205 

Copper,  preparations  of,  and  their  uses, 
258 

Coryza,  the  early  stage  of  distemper,  236 

Costiveness,  causes  and  treatment  of,  204, 
205 ;  means  of  preventing,  205 

Cough,  spasmodic,  nature  and  treatment 
of,  190 

Coursing,  Ovid's  description  of,  27  ;  anec- 
dotes of,  31,  32;  laws  of,  260;  general 
rules  for  the  guidance  of  judges,  261 ; 
local  rules,  262 

Creosote,  a  dangerous  medicine,  258 ;  use- 
ful in  canker,  163 

Creta,  an  astringent,  259 

Cropping  of  the  ears,  112;  deafness  fre- 
quently caused  by,  112 ;  disapproved  of, 
165  ;  proper  method  of,  166 

Cross-breeding,  effect  of,  11 

Cuba,  mastiff  of,  100 

Cur,  description  of  the,  67 

Cyprus,  greyhounds  of,  described,  37 

Cynosurus  cristatus,  an  useful  emetic, 
195 

Czarina,  a  celebrated  greyhound,  32 

DAKHUN  wild  dog,  description  of  the,  16 
Dalmatian  dog,  description  of  the,  26 
Danish  sacrifices  of  dogs,  description  of, 

24 ;  dog,  description  of  the,  26 
Deab,  description  of  the,  22 
Deafness  frequently  caused  by  cropping, 

112 

Deer-hound,  description  of  the,  38 
Delafond,  Professor,  his  table  of  the  diag- 
nostic symptoms  of  pleurisy  and  pneu- 
monia, 192 

Dentition,  formula  of,  177 
Dew-claws,  112;  their  removal  unneces- 
sary, 112 

Dhole,  description  of  the,  16 
Diaphragm,  description  of  the,  185 
Diarrhoea,  causes,  nature,  and  treatment 
of,  204 ;  habitual,  204 


Dick,  Professor,  on  rabies,  145;  on  the 
use  of  the  ergot  of  rye,  228 

Digestion,  the  process  of,  194,  196 

Digitalis,  the  uses  of,  259 

Digitigrade,  an  order  of  animals,  1 1 

Dingo,  description  of  the,  19 

Distemper,  origin  of  the  name,  231 ;  is  a 
new  disease,  231  ;  causes  of,  231  ;  is 
contagious,  231 ;  is  epidemic,  232 ; 
effects  on  different  breeds,  232 ;  symp- 
toms, 232 ;  nature  of,  234,  236 ;  dura- 
tion, 235 ;  post-mortem  appearances, 
235 ;  treatment,  237 ;  a  cause  of  epi- 
lepsy, 119;  sometimes  terminates  in 
palsy,  242 

Dog,  early  history  of  the,  1 ;  used  as  a 
beast  of  draught,  2;  for  food,  2,  23; 
uses  of  the  skin  of  the,  2  ;  origin  of,  3, 
1 1 ;  mention  of,  in  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments,  4,  5 ;  anecdotes  of  the  saga- 
city and  fidelity  of,  8  ;  changes  produced 
in,  by  breeding  and  climate,  1 1 ;  zoolo- 
gical description  of,  11;  natural  divi- 
sions of,  11;  sacrificed  by  the  Greeks 
and  Romans,  23 ;  by  the  Danes  and 
Swedes,  24;  African  wild,  22;  Alba- 
nian, 26 ;  Alicant,  104  ;  Alpine  spaniel, 
51 ;  American  wild,  22  ;  Andalusian, 
104;  Artois,  104;  Australasian,  19; 
Barbary,  104 ;  barbet,  49 ;  beagle,  68  ; 
black  and  tan  spaniel,  45 ;  Blenheim 
spaniel,  45  ;  blood-hound,  89 ;  British, 
7;  bull,  98;  bull  terrier,  99;  coach, 
26;  cocker,  44;  cur,  67;  Dakhun,  16; 
Dalmatian,  26;  Danish,  26;  drover's, 
65 ;  Egyptian,  104 ;  Esquimaux,  55 ;  fox- 
hound, 72 ;  French  matin,  27 ;  French 
pointer,  93 ;  gasehound,  39 ;  Grecian,  6 ; 
Grecian  greyhound,  40 ;  greyhound,  27 ; 
Hare  Indian,  25 ;  harrier,  70 ;  Highland 
greyhound,  38  ;  Hyrcanian,  7  ;  Iceland, 
101 ;  Irish  greyhound,  39 ;  Italian  grey- 
hound, 42 ;  Italian  wolf,  66 ;  Javanese, 
19;  King  Charles's  spaniel,  44;  Lap- 
land, 59 ;  lion,  50 ;  Locrian,  7  ;  lurcher, 
68;  Mahratta,  16;  Maltese,  50;  mastiff, 
99;  Molossian,  7;  Nepal,  15;  New- 
foundland, 52 ;  New  Zealand,  21 ;  otter, 
97;  Pannonian,  7;  pariah,  18;  Persian 
greyhound,  41 ;  pointer,  92 ;  Polugar. 
16 ;  poodle,  48 ;  Portuguese  pointer,  93 ; 
Russian  greyhound,  40 ;  Russian  pointer, 
94 ;  Scotch  greyhound,  38  ;  Scotch  ter- 
rier, 103  ;  setter,  90  ;  sheep,  59  ;  shock, 
104 ;  southern  hound,  88 ;  spaniel,  43 ; 
Spanish  pointer,  93 ;  springer,  45 ;  stag- 
hound,  86 ;  Sumatran  wild,  19  ;  terrier, 
101 ;  Thibet,  17 ;  Turkish,  50;  Turkish 
greyhound,  41 ;  Turnspit,  97 ;  water- 
spaniel,  45;  wild,  13;  wolf,  40 

Dog-carts,  prohibition  of,  disapproved,  2  ; 
should  be  licensed,  111 

Dog-pits,  1 14 

Dog-stealing,  114 


INDEX. 


265 


Dog's-tail  grass,  the  use  of,  195 
Dogs,  Isle  of,  origin  of  the  name,  29 
Dropsy,  205 ;  causes  of,  205 ;  cases  of,  206  ; 

treatment  of,  207 

Drover's  dog,  description  of  the,  65 
Duodenum,  the,  194 
Dupuy,   M.,  on   diseases   of  the   spinal 

marrow,  125 
Dysentery,  nature  of,  204;  treatment  of, 

205 

EAR,  diseases  of  the,  160;  vegetating  ex- 
crescences in  the,  164 ;  eruptions  in  the, 
164  ;  cropping  of  the,  165 ;  polypi  in  the, 
nature  and  treatment  of,  166  ;  pain  of, 
an  early  symptom  of  rabies,  133 
Egyptian  worship  of  the  dog,  4 ;  dog,  de- 
scription of  the,  104 

Elfric,  King  of  Mercia,  possessed  grey- 
hounds, 29 

Emetic  tartar,  uses  of,  257 
Emetics,  useful  in  distemper,  237 
Enteritis,  causes,  symptoms,  and  treatment 

of,  199 

Epiglottis,  description  of  the,  181 
Epilepsy,  causes  of,  1 1 9 ;  treatment  of,  1 1 9 ; 
cases,  120 ;  puerperal,  229 ;  in  distem- 
per, 233,  239 

Epsom  salts,  a  purgative,  259 
Ergot  of  rye,  use  of,  in  parturition,  226, 228 
Esquimaux  dog,  description  of  the,  55 
Ethiopia,  a  dog  elected  king  of,  4 
Ethmoid  bones,  description  of  the,  169 
Extremities,  bones  of  the,  117 
Eye,  distinctive  form  of  the,  3, 1 1 ;  diseases 
of  the,  155;  construction  of  the,  155; 
cases  of  disease  of  the,  156  ;  congenital 
blindness,  157 ;   ophthalmia,  158 ;  cata- 
ract, 158;  amaurosis,  158;  appearance 
of  in  rabies,  138  ;  appearance  of  in  dis- 
temper, 233 

FAMILIARIS,  sub-genus,  11 

Feet,  sore,  248 

Femur,  fracture  of  the,  251 

Fighting-pits,  114 

First  division  of  varieties,  13 

Fistula  in  the  anus,  causes  and  treatment 

of,  221 
Fits,  symptoms  of,  117 ;  treatment  of,  118  ; 

distemper,  233,  239 ;  puerperal,  229. 
Fitzhardinge,  Lord,  his  management  of 

hounds,  81 

Flogging  hounds,  disapproved  of,  76 
Food,  the  dog  used  for,  2,  23,  24 ;  of  the 

greyhound,  36 ;    of  the  foxhound,  83 ; 

insufficient,  a  cause  of  distemper,  231 
Fore-arm,  fracture  of  the,  251 
Foxhound,  description  of  the,  72  ;  size  and 

proper  conformation  of,  72 ;  pupping, 

74;  treatment  of  whelps,  75;  breaking 

in,  76 ;  management  in  the  field,  78  ; 

general  management  and  food  of,  83 ; 

Lord  Fitzhardinge's  management,  81 


Fractures,  most  frequent  in  young  dogs, 
250 ;  of  the  huinerus,  250 ;  of  the  thigh, 
251 ;  of  the  femur,  251 ;  of  the  radius, 
251 ;  of  the  fore-arm,  251 ;  of  the  shoul- 
der, 252  ;  of  the  pelvis,  253  ;  of  the  skull, 
253 

French  pointer,  description  of  the,  93 
Fungus  hsematodes,  a  case  of,  248 ;  post- 
mortem appearances,  248 

GASEHOUND,  description  of  the^  39 

Gelert,  the  dog  of  Llewellyn,  poem  on  the 
death  of,  30 

Gentian,  a  stomachic  and  tonic,  259 

Ghookhan,  or  wild  ass,  hunted  by  Per- 
sian greyhounds,  42 

Giddiness,  nature  and  treatment  of,  118 

Ginger,  a  cordial  and  tonic,  259 

Glass,  powdered,  the  best  vermifuge,  219, 
237 

Goitre,  nature  of,  182;  cause  and  treat- 
ment of,  183 

Good  qualities  of  the  dog,  105 

Goodwood  kennel,  description  of,  84 ;  plan 
of,  85 

Grecian  dogs,  description  of,  6  ;  sacrifices 
of  dogs,  23 ;  greyhound,  description  of 
the,  40. 

Greyhound,  description  of  the,  27 ;  pup- 
pies, cut  of,  6  ;  origin  of,  28 ;  known  in 
England  in  the  Anglo-Saxon  period,  28  ; 
old  verses  describing  the,  31 ;  cross 
with  the  bull-dog,  31  ;  proper  conform- 
ation of,  33 ;  colour  of,  34 ;  breeding, 
35;  rules  for  age,  35;  food,  36; 
training,  36 ;  laws  for  coursing  with, 
260  ;  English,  27 ;  Grecian,  40 ;  High- 
land, 38;  Irish,  39;  Italian,  42;  Per- 
sian, 41 ;  Russian,  40  ;  Scotch,  38 ; 
Turkish,  41 

Grognier,  Professor,  description  of  the 
French  sheep-dog,  59 

Gullet,  description  of  the,  194 

HARE  Indian  dog,  description  of  the,  25 

Harrier,  description  of  the,  70 

Head,  bones  of  the,  116;  form  of  in  the 

foxhound,  72 
Heart,  description  of  the,  186 ;  action  of 

the,  186;  rupture  of  the,  187 
Hecate,  dogs  sacrificed  to,  23 
Hepatitis,  causes,  symptoms  and  treatment 

of,  210 

Hertwich,  Professor,  on  rabies,  151 
Highland  greyhound,  description  of  the,38 
Hindoos  regard  the  dog  unclean,  5 
Hogg,  James,  anecdotes  of  his  dog,  62 
Hog's  lard,  the  basis  of  all  ointments,  256 
Hound,  the  various  kinds  of,  68 ;  blood,  89 ; 

fox,  72  ;  otter,  97 ;  southern,  88;  stag,  86 
Humerus,  fracture  of  the,  250 
Hunting  with  dogs  first  mentioned  by 

Oppian,  6 
Hunting-kennels,  79 


266 


INDEX. 


Huntsman,  the  requisites  of  a,  78 
Hydatids  in  the  kidney,  213 
Hydrocyanic  acid,  useful  in  cases  of  irri- 
tation of  the  skin,  256 
Hydrophobia,  see  Rabies 
Hyrcanian  dog,  description  of  the,  7 

ICELAND  dog,  description  of  the,  101 . 

Ileum,  description  of  the,  197 

Incontinence  of  urine,  217 

India,  degeneration  of  dogs  in,  15 

Inflammation  of  the  lungs,  189;  of  the 
stomach,  194;  of  the  intestines,  199  ;  of 
the  peritoneal  membrane,  202 ;  of  the 
liver,  209;  of  the  kidney,  213;  of  the 
bladder,  215 ;  of  the  feet,  249 

Intelligence  of  the  dog,  107 ;  anecdotes 
illustrative  of  the,  108 

Intestines,  description  of  the,  197;  inflam- 
mation of  the,  199 

Intussusception,  nature  and  causes  of,  203 ; 
treatment,  204 

Iodine,  a  valuable  medicine  in  goitre,  183  ; 
in  dropsy,  208 

Irish  greyhound,  description  of  the,  39  ; 
wolf-dog,  40  ;  setter,  91 

Italian  greyhound,  description  of  the,  42  ; 
wolf-dog,  66 

JAMES'S  powder,  a  sudorific,  257 
Jaundice,   causes,  symptoms,   and  treat- 
ment of,  211 

Javanese  dog,  description  of  the,  19 
Jejunum,  description  of  the,  197 
Jenner,  Dr.,  on  distemper,  240 
Jews  regard  the  dog  with  abhorrence,  4 
John,  kept  many  dogs,  29  ;  received  grey- 
hounds in  lieu  of  fines,  29 

KAMTCHATKA,  uses  of  the  dog  as  a  beast 
of  draught  in,  2 

Kararahe  or  New  Zealand  dog,  descrip- 
tion of  the,  21 

Kennel,  description  of,  79 ;  Goodwood, 
84 ;  plan  of  Goodwood,  85 ;  for  watch- 
dog, construction  of,  113 ;  hare,  use  of, 
113;  lameness,  nature  of,  79;  causes  of 
80  ;  means  of  prevention,  81 

Kidney,  inflammation  of  the,  213 ;  hyda- 
tids  in  the,  213 

King  Charles's  spaniel,  description  of,  44 

LACHRYMAL  duct,  description  of  the,  170 
Lapland  dog,  description  of  the,  59 
Lard,  the  basis  of  all  ointments,  256 
Larynx,  description  of  the,  181 ;  inflam- 
mation of  the,  182 
Laws  of  coursing,  260 
Leblanc,  M.,  on  jaundice,  211 
Leonard,  M.,  his  exhibition  of  dogs,  108 
Lime,  chloride  of,  the  uses  of,  259 
Lion  dog,  description  of  the,  50 
Lips,  functions  of  the,  177;  swellings  of  the, 
177 


Liver,  description  of  the,  209  ;  functions 

of  the,  209 ;  inflammation  of  the,  209 
Llewellyn,  poem  on  the  dog  of,  30 
Locrian  dog,  description  of  the,  7 
Lunar  caustic,  the  best,  257;  recommend- 
ed for  bites  of  rabid  dogs,  147 
Lungs,   inflammation  of  the,    189;   con- 
gestion of  the,  189 
Lurcher,  description  of  the,  68 

MADNESS,  canine,  see  Rabies 
Magnesia,  sulphate  of,  a  purgative,  259 
Mahratta  dog,  description  of  the,  1 6 
Majendie,  his  experiments  on  the  olfactory 

nerves,  173 

Major,  a  celebrated  greyhound,  32 
Maltese  dog,  description  of  the,  50 
Mammalia,  a  class  of  animals,  1 1 
Management  of  the  pack,  83 
Mange,  nature  of,  244  ;  is  hereditary,  245 ; 

the  scabby,  245 ;  treatment,  245  ;  causes 

of,  246  ;  frequently  causes  goitre,  183 
Mastiff,   description   of  the,  99 ;  used  in 

Cuba  to  hunt  the  Indians,  100 
Matin,  description  of  the,  27 
Maxillary  bones,  description  of  the,  1 70 
Meatus,  description  of  the,  169 
Medicines,  a  list  of  the  most  useful,  255  ; 

mode  of  administering,  255 
Medullary  substance  of  the  brain,  106 
Memory  of  the  dog,  111 
Mercury,  preparations  of,  259  ;  uses  of,  259 
Milk,  accumulation  of,  in  the  teats,  225 

secretion  of,  connected  with  cancer,  247 
Mohammedan  abhorrence  of  dogs,  5 
Molossian  dog,  description  of  the,  7 
Moral  qualities  of  the  dog,  110 

NASAL  bones,  description  of  the,  170 

catarrh,  nature  of,  235 

cavity,  polypus  in  the,  167 

Neck,  should  be  long  in  the  greyhound,  33 
Nepal  dog,  description  of  the,  15 
Nerves,  description  of  the,  106 
Nervous  system,  diseases  of,  117 
Newfoundland  dog,  description  of  the,  52 
New  Holland  dog,  description  of  the,  19 
New  Zealand  dog,  description  of  the,  21 
Nimrod,  opinion  on  kennel  lameness,  81 
Nitrate  of  potash,  a  useful  diuretic,  259 
Nitrate  of  silver,  a  caustic,  257 ;  recom- 
mended for  the  bites  of  rabid  dogs,  147  ; 
useful  in  chorea,  122  ;  in  canker,  161 
Nitric  acid,  a  caustic,  255 
Norfolk  spaniel,  description  of  the,  45 
Nose,  anatomy  of  the,  169 ;  diseases  of  the, 
172  ;  discharge  from  the,  in  distemper, 
234 

OLFACTORY  nerves,  size  of,  in  different 
animals,  107  ;  development  of  the,  169  ; 
description  of  the,  171 

Ophthalmia,  symptoms  of,  155;  causes  of, 
158;  treatment  of,  158 


INDEX. 


267 


Oppian,  the  first  who  mentions  hunting 
with  dogs,  6 ;  description  of  British  dogs 
by,  7 

Orbit  of  the  eye,  form  of  the,  155 
Orford,    Lord,   first  crossed   greyhounds 

with  the  bull-dog,  31 ;  death  of,  32 
Otter-hound,  description  of  the,  97 
Ovaries,  removal  of  the,  225 
Ovid,  description  of  coursing  by,  27 
Ozsena,  nature  and  treatment  of,  172 

PALATE,  veil  of  the,  1 70  ;  inflammation  of 
the,  170 

Palsy,  causes  of,  125;  treatment  of,  125; 
a  consequence  of  chorea,  121 ;  a  conse- 
quence of  distemper,  242 

Palm  oil,  an  emollient,  259 

Pancreas,  functions  of  the,  213 

Pannonian  dog,  description  of  the,  7 

Pariah,  description  of  the,  18 

Parry,  Captain,  description  of  the  Esqui- 
maux dogs,  56 

Parturition,  time  of,  225  ;  management 
during,  226 ;  use  of  the  ergot  of  rye, 
226,  228 ;  inversion  of  the  uterus  after, 
230 

Pelvis,  fracture  of  the,  253 

Percivall,  Mr.,  on  fractures,  252 

Pericardium,  description  of  the,  185;  case 
of  a  wound  in  the,  187 

Peritonitis,  symptoms  and  treatment  of, 
202 

Persian  greyhound,  description  of  the,  41 

Peruvian  bark,  a  valuable  tonic,  257 

Phlegmonous  tumour,  nature  and  treat- 
ment of,  184 

Pleurisy,  nature  of,  188  ;  diagnostic  symp- 
toms of,  192 

Pneumonia,  nature  and  treatment  of,  189  ; 
diagnostic  symptoms  of,  192  ;  in  distem- 
per, 238;  a  consequence  of  small-pox,  244 

Pointer,  compared  with  the  setter,  91  ; 
early  training  of,  94  ;  breaking-in,  96  ; 
English,  92  ;  French,  93 ;  Portuguese, 
93;  Russian,  94;  Spanish,  93. 

Pollux,  the  introduction  of  hunting  with 
dogs  attributed  to,  6 

Polugar  dog,  description  of  the,  16 

Polypus  in  the  ear,  166 ;  in  the  nasal  and 
anal  cavities,  167;  in  the  vagina,  167 

Pomeranian  wolf-dog,  description  of,  66 

Poodle,  description  of  the,  48 

Portuguese  pointer,  description  of  the,  93 

Potash,  the  nitrate  of,  a  useful  diuretic,  259 

Prussic  acid,  useful  in  cases  of  irritation  of 
the  skin,  256 

Puerperal  fits,  causes,  nature,  and  treat- 
ment of,  229 

Pulse  of  various  animals,  186 

Pupping,  see  Parturition 

Purging  in  distemper,  234 ;  should  be 
avoided,  239 

Pythagoras,  his  high  opinion  of  ttys  virtues 
of  the  dog,  4 


RABIES,  128  ;  cases,  129  ;  early  symptoms, 
131 ;  progress,  135  ;  post-mortem  appear- 
ances, 141 ;  causes,  143;  period  of  incu- 
bation, 143 ;  duration,  144 ;  nature  of  the 
virus,  144  ;  nature  of  the  disease,  145 ; 
treatment  of  persons  bitten,  146;  in  the 
horse,  148;  in  the  rabbit,  148;  in  the 
guinea-pig,  149 ;  in  the  cat,  149 ;  in  the 
fowl,  150;  in  the  badger,  150;  in  the 
wolf,  150 ;  trials  concerning  the  death  of 
persons  by,  152 

Radius,  fracture  of  the,  251 

Ratcliffe,  D.,  on  scent,  175 

Rectum,  the,  197 

Retriever,  Newfoundland  dog  used  as,  55 

Rheumatism,  nature,  causes,  and  treatment 
of,  124 

Richard  II.,  anecdote  of  the  dog  of,  29 

Richmond,  the  third  Duke  of,  built  Good- 
wood kennel,  84 

Roman  sacrifices  of  dogs,  description  of,  23 

Rounding  the  ear  in  canker,  disapproved, 
161 

Rottenness  of  the  lungs,  189 

Rupture  of  the  heart,  case  of,  187  ;  post- 
mortem appearances,  188  ;  of  the  colon, 
200;  of  the  bladder,  217 

Russian  greyhound,  description  of  the,  40  ; 
pointer,  description  of  the,  94 

SALIVA,  state  of  in  rabies,  135 

Salts,  a  purgative,  259 

Scabby  mange,  nature  and  treatment  of, 
245 

Scent,  the  term,  173;  description  of,  173; 
influence  of  the  atmosphere  upon,  1 73 

Scotch  greyhound,  description  of  the,  38 ; 
terrier,  description  of  the,  103 

Scott,  Sir  Walter,  anecdote  of  the  dog  of, 
99  ;  verses  on  the  dogs  of,  105 

Second  division  of  varieties,  43 

Seton,  useful  in  epilepsy,  119 

Setter,  description  of  the,  90  ;  early  train- 
ing of,  94 ;  compared  with  the  pointer, 
91 

Sheep-dog,  description  of  the,  59 ;  anec- 
dotes of  the,  59,  63  ;  supposed  by  Buffon 
to  be  the  original  type,  104;  French, 
description  of  the,  59 

Shock  dog,  description  of  the,  104 

Shoulder,  fracture  of  the,  252 ;  proper  form 
of  the,  in  the  greyhound,  33 

Siberian  dog,  description  of  the.  57 

Simonds,  Professor,  on  fractures,  253 

Simpson,  Mr.,  on  the  use  of  the  ergot  of  rye, 
229 

Skeleton,  description  of  the,  116 

Skin,  uses  of  the,  2 

Skull,  form  of,  adopted  as  the  arrangement 
of  the  varieties  of  the  dog,  1 1 ;  fracture 
of  the,  253 

Small-pox,  symptoms  of,  243 ;  causes  of, 
244 ;  treatment,  244 

Smell,  the  sense  of,  107, 172 


268 


INDEX. 


Snowball,  a  celebrated  greyhound,  32 
Sore  feet,  causes  of,  248 ;   treatment,  249 
Southern  hound,  description  of  the,  88 
Spaniel,  origin  of  the,  43  ;  description  of 
the,  43 ;  Blenheim,  45  ;  King  Charles's, 
44 ;   Norfolk,  45 ;   water,  45 
Spanish  pointer,  description  of  the,  93 
Spasmodic  cough,  nature  and  treatment 

of,  190 

Spaying,  mode  of  performing,  225 
Spleen,  functions  of  the,  213;  diseases  of 

the,  213 

Springer,  description  of  the,  45 
Staghound,  description  of  the,  86  j  anec- 
dotes of  the,  87 
Staling,  profuse,  217 
Starch  bandage,  useful  in  fractures,  253 
Stealing  of  dogs,  114 

Stomach,  anatomy  and  diseases  of  the,  194 ; 
case  of  the  retention  of  a  sharp  instru- 
ment in  the,  195 
Stiychnia,  a  valuable  medicine  in  palsy, 

127 
Sulphur,the  basis  of  applications  for  mange, 

259 ;  a  good  alterative,  259 
Sumatra,  description  of  the  wild  dog  of,  19 
Surfeit,  an  eruption  resembling  mange,  245 
Swedish  sacrifices  of  dogs,  description  of,  24 
Sympathetic  nerves,  106 

TJENIA,  a  species  of  worm,  218 

Tailing,  112 

Tape- worm,  the,  218 

Tapping  in  cases  of  dropsy,  207 

Tartar  emetic,  a  useful  medicine,  257 

Teeth,  distinctive  arrangement  of  the,  11; 
description  of  the,  177;  cuts  showing 
various  stages  of  growth  and  decay,  1 78, 
179;  supernumerary,  179;  diseases  of 
the,  180;  very  early  lost  by  the  Turkish 
dog,  50 

Teres,  a  species  of  worm,  218 

Terrier,  description  of  the,  101 ;  training 
of  the,  102 ;  anecdotes  of  the,  102 ; 
Scotch,  description  of  the,  103 

Tetanus,  causes  of,  197;  symptoms  and 
treatment  of,  198 

Thibet  dog,  description  of  the,  17  ;  cut  of 
the,  13 

Thigh,  fracture  of  the,  251 

Third  division  of  varieties,  98 

Thyroid  cartilage,  description  of  the,  181 

Toes,  sore,  249  ;  number  of,  249 

Tongue,  description  of  the,  175;  mode  of 
drinking,  175;  worming,  175;  blain, 
176 

Torsion,  mode  of  performing,  222 ;  for- 
ceps, 222 

Training  of  the  greyhound,  36 ;  of  the  fox- 
hound, 77  ;  of  the  pointer  or  setter,  94 

Trimmer,  Mr.,  description  of  the  Spanish 
sheep-dog,  61 


Trunk,  bones  of  the,  116 

Tumour,  phlegmonous,  nature  and  treat- 
ment of,  184 

Turkish  dog,  description  of  the,  50 ;  grey- 
hound, description  of  the,  4 1 

Turnside,  nature  and  treatment  of,  118 

Turnspit,  description  of  the,  97 

Turpentine,  uses  of,  259 

UNGUENTS,  use  of,  in  mange,  245 
Unguiculata,  a  tribe  of  animals,  1 1 
Uterus,  case  of  inversion  of  the,  230 ;  ex- 
tirpation and  cure,  230 

VAGINA,  polypus  in  the,  167 

Van  Diemen  Land,  ravages  of  wild  dogs 
in,  21 

Varieties,  three  divisions  of,  12 ;  first 
division  of,  13 ;  second  division  of,  43 ; 
third  division  of,  98 

Vatel,  his  observations  on  the  pulse  of  dif- 
ferent animals,  186 

Vegetating  excrescences  in  the  ear,  nature 
and  treatment  of,  164 

Vermifuge,  glass  the  most  effectual,  219, 
237 

Vertebrated  animals,  what,  1 1 

Vinegar,  useful  for  fomentations,  255 

Voice,  change  of  in  rabies,  138 

Vyner,  Mr.,  opinion  on  kennel  lameness,  80 

WARTS,  treatment  of,  246 

Washing  of  hounds  disapproved  of,  8 1 

Watch-dog,  frequent  ill-usage  of  the,  113 

Water-spaniel,  description  of  the,  45 ;  anec- 
dotes of  the,  47 

Wild  dog,  description  of  the,  13;  of  Africa, 
22;  of  Australia,  19;  of  Van  Diemen 
Land,  21 

Williamson,  Captain,  account  of  the  wild 
dogs  of  Nepal,  15  ;  on  the  degeneration 
of  dogs  in  India,  15  ;  description  of  the 
dhole,  16 

Wolf,  supposed  to  be  the  origin  of  the  dog, 
3 ;  anecdotes  of  the,  3 

Wolf-dog,  Irish,  40 ;  Italian,  66 

Worming  the  tongue,  a  useless  practice, 
175 

Worms,  varieties  of,  218  ;  symptoms  of, 
219 ;  means  of  expelling,  219  ;  cases  of, 
219;  a  cause  of  sudden  death,  220; 
causes  of,  221 ;  a  cause  of  epilepsy,  119 ; 
a  cause  of  distemper,  237 

YELLOW  distemper,  nature  of,  235  ;  treat- 
ment of,  239 
Yellows,  the,  211 

ZINC,  sulphate  of,  a  valuable  excitant,  259 
Zoological  classification  of  the  dog,  1 1 


LONDON  :    WILLIAM  CLOWES  AND  SON?,  STAMFORD  STREET. 


7  DAY  USE 

0  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 


This  publication  is  due  on  the  LAST  DATE 
stamped  below. 


APR  05  1990 


BB  17-60m-8,'60 
(B3395slO)4188 


.General  Library 

University  of  California 

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YC  20437 


